Ligue 1 2022 winter transfer window

The

Ligue 1 2022 winter transfer window

has come to an end and the clubs competing in the French top-flight have finished their business in the deadline day. With the current campaign being well-past midseason, teams have already shaped up and we now know who the real title contenders are in each top league in Europe. While Sevilla chase Real Madrid in La Liga and Liverpool hope to catch up to Manchester City in the Premier League, Paris Saint-Germain are once again the only title contenders in Ligue 1, being way above everyone else this season.

However, that does not mean that the top tier of French football does not have its own intense and thrilling rivalries everywhere else on the league table. While some are currently competing to earn a spot in next season’s European tournaments, some are doing their best to stay out of the relegation zone.

That is why signing new players was of utmost importance for some of the clubs, while others refrained from bringing in anyone particular. If you too are eager to know more Ligue 1 transfers in 2021/2022 season, then read on as we provide detailed information about the winter transfer window and get to see how each team has fared so far in the season.

Ligue 1 January 2022 transfer window

While Paris Saint-Germain have refrained from signing anyone after their glorious summer transfer window, many of the other teams in the league have added to their squad depth in one way or another. So without further ado, here is everything you need to know about the Ligue 1 2022 winter transfer window.

LOSC Lille

Arrivals:

Edon Zhegrova (FC Basel), Hatem Ben Arfa (free agent)

Departures:

Jonathan Ikone (Fiorentina), Thiago Maia (Flamengo), Reinildo Mandava (Atletico Madrid), Yusuf Yazici (CSKA Moscow – loan), Eugenio Pizzuto (SC Braga), Cheikh Niasse (BSC Young Boys)

It is truly unbelievable how deep

have sunk in the French top-flight. Who would have thought that the surprise champions of last season would go on to become a mid-table side in the new campaign? Lille shocked the Parisians as they finished the 2020-21 season above their star-studded team and managed to become champions of France, while all the money spent by PSG could not stop a well-functioning team.

Now, however, most of that well-functioning team has already been taken away by other clubs in Europe and a significant part of what had been left was taken away in the

Ligue 1 2022 winter transfer window

. The Mastiffs let go of Jonathan Ikone for €14 million as the 23-year-old winger joined Fiorentina with a €22 million market value. The French side also sold Thiago Maia to Flamengo for €4 million and received an additional €3 million from Atletico Madrid for Reinildo Mandava.

Lille also had a couple more players in the departures sector and only got to sign Edon Zhegrova from

for €7 million, while bringing in 34-year-old Hatem Ben Arfa as a free agent. With Lille currently roaming the middle of the league table, we will have to wait and see if these departures could cause a further dip in form in the club’s squad, or if the new arrivals can lift the reigning champions up once again.

Paris Saint-Germain

Arrivals:

No arrivals.

Departures:

Kenny Nagera (US Avranches – loan), Rafinha (Real Sociedad – loan), Teddy Alloh (KAS Eupen – loan), Sergio Rico (RCD Mallorca – loan)

Who would even think about signing anyone new after having one of the most incredible and historic transfer windows of all time in the summer? Paris Saint-Germain made history by signing the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi and Gini Wijnaldum all in one transfer window while only spending €60 million in total.

Add these arrivals to the already star-studded

squad, which comprises of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Mauro Icardi and many more, it is quite surprising that other teams in the French league still have hope. Of course football has sometimes proven to be on the side of the underdog and we got to see exactly that in the 2020-21 season. With no arrivals for PSG in the

Ligue 1 2022 winter transfer window

, the Parisians have opted to loan out some of their least-used stars to make some breathing room available.

Their squad is already too big to fit into the Champions League regulations, which is why Pochettino has had to omit some of his stars from his squad list already. They are flying high above everyone else in the league with 56 points in 23 games and have a 13-point lead against runners-up Marseille. With such a comfortable lead, it was already clear that we were not going to see any Ligue 1 winter transfers in 2021/22 for PSG.

AS Monaco

Arrivals:

Vanderson (Gremio)

Departures:

Wilson Isidor (Lokomotiv Moscow), Pietro Pellgri (Torino – loan)

AS

have always played a role similar to what Ajax do in Eredivisie and they have certainly earned a significant amount of money with their world-class transfers in past years. Perhaps had they managed to keep all of those departures from over the years in their squad, they could have become a UEFA Champions League title contender, while being the absolute monarchs of the French league.

The Monegasques are currently sixth in the league with 36 points in 23 games. They have signed 20-year-old right-back Vanderson from Gremio for €11 million, while letting go of Wilson Iisidor and Pietro Pellegri, who have joined Lokomotiv Moscow and Torino respectively. Of course Pellegri will be returning to Monaco at the end of the season as he has only left the club on loan.

Olympique Lyon

Arrivals:

Romain Faivre (Stade Brestois), Tanguy Ndombele (Tottenham – loan)

Departures:

Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Marcelo (Bordeaux), Islami Slimani (Sporting CP), Florent Da Silva (FC Villeranche – loan), Yahya Soumare (Annecy – loan)

Olympique

are usually one of the main parts of the French top-flight. However, they too have suffered a dip in form lately as they are roaming the middle of the table with 34 points in 23 games. That is why they have acquired Romain Faivre from Stade Brestois for €15 million in the Ligue 1 2022 winter transfer window in order to turn the tides in their favor once again.

They can still reach a Champions League spot if they are persistent enough with their pursuit. With Newcastle’s project already well underway to build a stronger squad for the future, Lyon made the best of their opportunity to sell Bruno Guimaraes to the Premier League side for €42 million. They have also lost Marcelo and Islam Slimani on free transfer deals, which has further decreased their squad depth.

Olympique Marseille

Arrivals:

Samuel Gigot (Spartak Moscow), Cedric Bakambu (BJ Guoan), Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal)

Departures:

Dario Benedetto (Boca Juniors), Samuel Gigot (Spartak Moscow – loan), Jordan Amavi (OGC Nice – loan)

Olympique

are currently one of the only two league contenders who are anywhere close to Paris Saint-Germain. They are currently thirteen points behind the league leaders and are chasing the Parisians with everything they have got. According to the latest

Ligue 1 2022 transfer news

, Marseille have acquired Samuel Gigot from Spartak Moscow for half a million Euros, while also signing Cedric Bakambu and Sead Kolasinac on free transfer deals.

Stade Rennais

Arrivals:

No arrivals.

Departures:

Matthis Abline (AC Le Havre – loan), Metehan Guclu (FC Emmen – loan)

Rennes have gained prominence as a top club in the top tier of French football in recent years and they are currently fighting for a spot in next season’s European tournaments. The Ligue 1 2022 winter transfer window has not been much of a busy schedule for the French side as no new arrivals were presented in the month that passed.

The only two departures were also loan transfers and will be returning to the club in due time. One could even say that the

Ligue 1 January 2022 transfer window

was the most eventless for Rennais as they are quite content with their currently well-working squad.

RC Lens

Arrivals:

Patrick Berg (Bodo/Glimt)

Departures:

Jonathan Varane (Rodez AD – loan), Charles Boli (LR Vicena – loan)

The Ligue 1 winter transfers in 2021/22 saw Patrick Berg join RC Lens from Bodo/Glimt for little less than €5 million. They are currently ninth in the league with 33 points in 23 games.

Montpellier HSC

Arrivals:

Gabriel Bares (Lausanne-Sport)

Departures:

Mathias Suarez (Mvd City Torque)

finished eighth in the league last season and are now about to achieve more or less the same spot on the table. We did not get to see anything special from the club’s

Ligue 1 winter transfers in 2021/22

as they signed Gabriel Bares from Lausanne-Sport and loaned out Mathias Suarez to finish their transfer business for the time being.

OGC Nice

Arrivals:

Billal Brahimi (SCO Angers), Kouadio Ange Ahoussou (RC Abidjan), Jordan Amavi (Marseille – loan)

Departures:

Hassane Kamara (Watford), Lucas Da Cunha (Clermont Foot – loan), Robson Bambu (Corinthians – loan), Deji Sotona (Brentford – loan)

Other than Olympique Marseille, it is Nice who has the slightest chance of reaching Paris Saint-Germain if a spectacularly historic thing happens. They are currently sitting third with 42 points in 23 games and are chasing Marseille for at least a finish as runners-up. Considering how Nice finished ninth in the league last season, they have seriously amped up their workforce.

The French side’s Ligue 1 2022 winter transfer window was not a memorable one, yet they managed to secure a move for the 21-year-old winger Billal Brahimi, who has joined Nice from SCO Angers for €7 million. They had to let go of Hassane Kamara in order to fund their new signing’s arrival.

FC Metz

Arrivals:

Fali Cande (Portimonense), Ibrahim Amadou (Sevilla FC), Louis Mafouta (Xamax – loan), Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik (free agent)

Departures:

Cheikh Sabaly (Quevilly Rouen – loan), Lamine Gueye (Paris FC – loan), Warren Tchimbembe (CD Mirandes – loan), Amine Bassi (Barnsley – loan)

According to the latest Ligue 1 2022 transfer news, FC Metz have been quite busy with all their new signings and their recent departures. Having signed Fali Cande from Portimonense for €2.5 million, they have also acquire Ibrahim Amadou and Jean Biyik on free transfer deals. FC Metz are currently battling for their lives in Ligue 1 as they are roaming the relegation zone with 20 points in 23 games.

AS Saint-Etienne

Arrivals:

Falaye Sacko (Vit. Guimaraes – loan), Paul Bernardoni (SCO Angers – loan), Sada Thioub (SCO Angers – loan), Enzo Crivelli (Basaksehir – loan), Joris Gnagnon (free agent), Bakary Sako (free agent), Eliaquim Mangala (free agent)

Departures:

Alpha Sissoko (Quevilly Rouen), Stefan Bajic (Pau FC), Jean-Philippe Krasso (AC Ajaccio – loan)

have had one of their worst seasons ever as they have snatched only 18 points from their 23 league games so far. That means that they are currently sitting at the darkest depths of the league table and have had to put pen to paper for so many

Ligue 1 transfers in 2021/2022

in order to start a squad overhaul early on in the year. While many of the new arrivals are loan players, there are also three free agents among them.

From these three free agents, two are already known to be veterans of the game. Surely Bakayo Saka and Eliaquim Mangala’s arrival at the club could have an effect on their gameplay for the rest of the season. We will have to wait and see if the Ligue 1 2022 winter transfer window proves successful for Saint-Etienne in the end, or if they are going to get relegated down into the lower tier.

Bordeaux

Arrivals:

Anel Ahmedhodzic (Malmo FF – loan), Marcelo (Olympique Lyon), Joshua Guilavogui (VfL Wolsfburg – loan), Danylo Ignatenko (Shakhtar Donetsk – loan)

Departures:

Samuel Kalu (Watford), Otavio (Atletico Miniero – loan), Josh Maja (Stoke City – loan), Laurent Koscielny (free agent)

Most of Bordeaux’s Ligue 1 transfers in 2021/2022 were loan deals and they have sunk deeper than ever with 20 points in their last 23 league games. They are currently only above Saint-Etienne and might get relegated in the end if they keep their current form going.

SCO Angers

Arrivals:

Marin Jakolis (Hajduk Split), Nabil Bentaleb (free agent)

Departures:

Billal Brahimi (OGC Nice), Antonin Bobichon (AS Nancy – loan), Paul Bernardoni (Saint-Etienne – loan), Sada Thioub (Saint-Etienne – loan), Farid El Melali (Pau FC – loan)

According to the latest Ligue 1 2022 transfer news, SCO Angers have signed Nabil Bentaleb as a free agent, while signing Marin Jakolis from Hajduk Split for half a million Euros. Having sold Billal Brahimi to OGC Nice for €7 million, Angers have made a total profit of €6.5 million in the month that passed.

Stade Reims

Arrivals:

Jens Cajuste (FC Midtjylland), Maxime Busi (Parma – loan)

Departures:

Mathieu Cafaro (Standard Liege), Mamadou Mbow (Nimes Olympique – loan), Fode Doucoure (Red Star FC – loan), Philippe Koffi (Pacos Ferreira – loan)

Stade Reims were one of the most-spending clubs in the Ligue 1 2022 winter transfer window. They splashed €10 million to sign Jens Cajuste from FC Midtjylland, while acquiring Maxime Busi from Parma on a loan deal.

RC Strasbourg Alsace

Arrivals:

Ismael Doukoure (Valenciennes FC)

Departures:

Alexandre Pierre (Annecy FC – loan), Lebo Mothiba (Troyes – loan), Bingourou Kamara (RSC Charleroi – loan)

This season has been the season of the underdogs. Strasbourg, who finished below the middle of the league table last season, are now competing to earn a spot in next season’s Champions League. That is why they have signed a young and aspiring center-back named Ismael Doukoure from Valenciennes for €1.5 million in order to further boost their defenses for the rest of the season.

FC Lorient

Arrivals:

Ibrahima Kone (Sarpsborg 08), Taofeek Ismaheel (Fredrikstad), Bonke Innocent (Malmo)

Departures:

Thmas Fontaine (AS Nancy), Adrian Grbic (Vitesse – loan), Loris Mouyokolo (Bourg-en-Bresse – loan), Taofeek Ismaheel (Valerenga – loan)

FC Lorient are just above the relegation zone for the time being and any miscalculation will certainly lead to them being relegated from the French top-flight. In order to solve their recent goal-scoring problem, Lorient have signed the 22-year-old center-forward Ibrahima Kone from Sarpsborg for €4 million.

Stade Brestois

Arrivals:

Youcef Belaili (Qatar SC), Martin Satriano (Inter – loan), Paul Lasne (free agent)

Departures:

Romain Faivre (Olympique Lyon)

Stade Brest have sold one of their main wingers to Olympique Lyon in the 2022 January transfer window and have brought in a couple of replacements without spending any money on transfer fees. That is why they have made a net revenue of €15 million so far.

FC Nantes

Arrivals:

No arrivals.

Departures:

Renaud Emond (Standard Liege), Charly Jan (Bourg-en-Bresse), Molla Wague (RFC Seraing)

FC Nantes are right in the middle of the Ligue 1 table and seem to be quite content with their position in the league so far. Their current squad is perhaps working well enough to see it through to the end and that is why Nantes have not signed anyone in the month that passed.

Estac Troyes

Arrivals:

Abdu Conte (Moreirense), Erik Palmer-Brown (Man City), Lebo Mothiba (Strasbourg – loan), Luka Ilic (Man City), Ike Ugbo (KRC Genk – loan)

Departures:

Enrik Ostrc (Lommel SK – loan), Gabriel Mutombo (Vilafranquense – loan), Levi Lumeka (Vilafranquense – loan), Jimmy Giraudon (CD Leganes – loan), Calvin Bombo (released)

Troyes will have to be wary of their current position as they are not so far away from sinking into the relegation zone. With 21 points from their first 23 league games, they could be in deep trouble if their current poor run of form continues. That is why Troyes have signed several players in the winter transfer window and were undoubtedly one of the busiest clubs in the French top-flight.

Clermont Foot

Arrivals:

Lucas Da Cunha (OGC Nice – loan), Grejohn Kyei (Servette FC)

Departures:

Jonathan Iglesias (Paris FC), Jordan Tell (Grenoble), Julien Boyer (SC Bastia – loan)

Clermont Foot too are only a couple of points away from being relegated to the lower tier of French football. They have earned 24 points from their first 23 league games and we will have to see where they finish at the end of the season. Their winter transfer window was so-so as they loaned in and out a couple of players, while letting go of Jonathan Iglesias and Jordan Tell for free.

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