This summer saw Lens make a €30m move for a young prolific number 9 from Montpellier to reinforce the Northern side’s frontline ahead of a historic campaign involving Champions League involvement for the first time in 20 years.

Elye Wahi was a big-money signing that came with a heap of expectation after scoring 32 goals over two seasons at the Hérault club, yet the stats have shown Wahi has been worth his weight in gold (and red) for Lens so far.

European competition has proved a fair hunting ground for the France U21 forward. His record in the Champions League is already appearing to pay back Lens’ investment in the player: he put in a player of the match performance against Sevilla (1-1), before registering an assist and a memorable winner against Arsenal (2-1).

Happy Family at Lens

"I have no words, it's extraordinary," Wahi’s brother told RMC Sport's After Foot following the historic winner against the English side. "Lens was really the choice he had his heart set on, a new challenge. Even at Chelsea, he could have had a spot.”

"We liked the idea of coming to Lens because there's family in France, and it was necessary to continue his development in France," insisted Herman Wahi. "He was patient and he understood the project. Lens is a great town, and so is the region. He lacks nothing, and he's going to keep on working to be even more exceptional on the pitch."

Even former French president François Hollande got in on the act of praising the youngster, commenting to L’Équipe on the way out of his VIP box following the win against Arsenal. "He was expensive to sign but he gave a lot, he was really impressive!"

Clinical in the Champions League, can it transform to domestic form?

In the latest continental clash under the lights at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Wahi popped up with another memorable acrobatic effort to equalise against PSV Eindhoven (1-1), and in the process became Lens’ joint-second highest scorer in the competition.

"I was going to take him off," admitted Franck Haise, adding, "He knew that. Sometimes you get hunches like that. It was a complicated match for him but I thought he could score a goal for us. Of course, his game was also full of imperfections. At the same time, he pulled off a very difficult move."

Elye Wahi, version @ChampionsLeague 💫 pic.twitter.com/SiCU5cvl3g

— Ligue 1 Uber Eats (@Ligue1UberEats) October 25, 2023

Lens have undergone a difficult start to their 2023-2024 campaign in Ligue 1 Uber Eats so far, sitting 15th place after nine matches played. Wahi scored his first goal for Les Sang & Or against Strasbourg at the end of September, and will be hoping to net on his return to domestic action against FC Nantes on Saturday (kick-off 21:00) after missing out against Les Lensois’ previous goalless draw against Le Havre through suspension. 

>>Lens-Nantes preview: Mohamed back for Saturday's meeting