Olympique de Marseille have capped an ambitious recruitment campaign with the arrival of Portugal youth star striker Vitinha, while OGC Nice pulled off a coup in signing Lorient star Terem Moffi in the final hours of the winter transfer window. For all that and more final-day madness, read on...
The Portugal U21 international has been hailed as one of his country's most exciting prospects in his position: a good finisher with either foot - or his head - and with a massive work rate, the new Olympien should quickly please his new fans. Capable of initiating pressure and repeating high-intensity runs, he seems perfectly compatible with Marseille's identity and the playing values advocated by coach Igor Tudor.
This season, with SC Braga, Vitinha had a great first half of the campaign, scoring 13 goals and five assists in 27 games in all competitions. He is the third recruit of an ambitious Marseille window, after Ruslan Malinovskyi and Azzedine Ounahi.
Terem Moffi from Lorient to Nice
OGC Nice made the first big move of the last day of the winter transfer window with the signature of the league's second-top scorer. The revelation of the first half of the season with 12 goals, Terem Moffi remains in Ligue 1 Uber Eats after signing for Le Gym.
The 23-year-old Nigeria striker has joined Les Aiglons, who currently sit tenth on the league, on loan with a compulsory purchase option. He leaves FC Lorient, where he made his name with 34 goals over three seasons. Terem Moffi becomes Nice's second new recruit this winter after Youssouf Ndayishimiye, a central defender from the Turkish league.
Jeffinho, a new Brazilian at OL
After the arrival of Amin Sarr, Olympique Lyonnais have welcomed a new attacking prospect in the final hours of the mercato, bringing in Brazilian prodigy Jeffinho (23). The Botofago-trained winger, "renowned for his speed and impact", according to the OL press release, has signed for four and a half seasons, until 30 June 2027. He is the third winter recruit for Les Gones after Dejan Lovren and Sarr.
"I was very happy when I heard that the club was interested in me," the player told his new club's website. "I hope to help Olympique Lyonnais get back to the top and win titles."
Djed Spence hops Channel to Rennes
Another move between Stade Rennais and Tottenham! Six months after Joe Rodon, Les Rouge et Noir have secured the loan of another Spurs player: Djed Spence. The 22-year-old England U21 full-back has been brought in to replace the injured Lorenz Assignon, who has been deputising for Hamari Traoré on the right side of the Rennes defence. The new SRFC number 90 has signed until the end of the season, without no option to buy.
Myziane Maolida to Reims
Myziane Maolida is back in Ligue 1 Uber Eats. A year and a half after his departure to Hertha Berlin, the striker returns to France on loan to Stade de Reims until the end of the season. Capable of playing in any position across the front line, the 23-year-old is now at his third club in France, after OL and OGC Nice. In Champagne country, he should quickly have the opportunity to add to his stats five goals in 65 top-flight appearances.
Issiaga Sylla does the dash from Toulouse to Montpellier
Montpellier Hérault SC have made their third signing of the winter window. After bringing in Kiki Kouyate and Benjamin Lecomte, La Paillade have continued to strengthen their defence by recruiting left-back Issiaga Sylla. The 29-year-old Guinea international leaves Toulouse FC, where he arrived ten and a half years ago from Conakry. During his great adventure in Toulouse, interspersed with loans to Gazélec Ajaccio and RC Lens, the defender has played 223 Ligue 1 Uber Eats matches (169 with Les Violets) and 25 Ligue 2 BKT matches. MHSC have not specified the duration of their new No.3's contract.
Three new faces at Lorient
No fewer than three new players signed for Lorient on the last day of the window. Eighteen-year-old midfielder Ayman Kari has been loaned out by Paris Saint-Germain for 18 months, with an option to buy. A promising member of the Parisian youth academy, the U19 international will be looking to make his debut in Ligue 1 Uber Eats soon, having been regularly called up to the Parisian senior squad this season.
Joining him was goalkeeper Julian Pollersbeck, who has been loaned out by OL until the end of the season. Pollersbeck, who is number three in Lyon's hierarchy, is expected to be Vito Manonne's understudy at Les Merlus after the long-term injury to first-choice keeper Yvon Mvogo. Finally, the third player of the day, young Norwegian winger Joel Mvuka (20 years old) has committed himself to Les Merlus until June 2027. However, he will remain at current club Bodo Glimt on loan until the end of the season.
Two reinforcements at Brest
Meanwhile, Stade Brestois 29 took advantage of the final hours of the window to welcome two new players on loan. Nineteen-year-old midfielder Felix Lemarechal, a former France U16 and U17 international, has been loaned out for six months by AS Monaco with no option to buy. Later in the day, 20-year-old left-back Bradley Locko, who has already played 15 Ligue 1 Uber Eats games for Stade de Reims this season, signed for the same period, with an option to buy.
Moussa Djitté to Ajaccio, Ghoulam to Angers
AC Ajaccio were not to be outdone, however, and they also struck before the deadline - with the arrival of Moussa Djitté. The 23-year-old Senegalese striker, who was playing for Austin in the United States, has been loaned to the Corsicans until the end of the season. In search of an attacking reinforcement, the promoted club chose the former Sion (Switzerland) and Grenoble Foot 38 (Ligue 2 BKT, where he played 60 games and scored 15 goals between 2019 and 2021) striker to help lift them off the bottom of the attacking charts (just 16 goals scored) and maybe avoid the drop.
"The task was difficult compared to our means. There are few strikers available in our price range. We moved heaven and earth to strengthen ourselves offensively," said ACA sports coordinator Johan Cavalli. "Moussa Djitté is an athletic striker, who knows how to keep the ball and take it into space. He is dedicated to scoring goals and has all the characteristics to give us a boost."
A little later in the evening, Faouzi Ghoulam made his return to Ligue 1 Uber Eats by signing for Angers SCO. Having left the league in January 2014 for Napoli, the former Saint-Etienne man had been a free agent since the end of his contract with the Italian club last summer. His experience will not go amiss for SCO, who are bottom of the table after 20 games.
AJ Auxerre made a sixth signing on the last day of the window: Siriki Dembélé. The 26-year-old winger, on the books at Premier League side Bournemouth, has joined AJA on loan until June, with no option to buy. He will wear the No.77 for his new club.
>> TRANSFERS: All the winter moves
(Photo credit: OM)
