Rémi Walter signed with OGC Nice on Monday. This 20-year-old midfielder previously played at Nancy and has 9 caps with the French U21 team. He joins to strengthen an already strong midfield and to bring competition to the Mendy-Seri-Koziello trio.
His name has been frequently mentioned in transfer discussions over recent seasons. A young technical midfielder, endowed with a game intelligence that attracted many Ligue 1 clubs, including Nantes, which tried to acquire him last summer. Ultimately, it is Nice, 4th in the league after 21 games, that struck gold. Nancy supporters are already lamenting his departure on social media.
Born on April 26, 1995, Rémi Walter is approaching his 21st birthday and yet, he has significant experience in Ligue 2 with 77 matches over 3 seasons, scoring 4 goals. In the 2013-2014 season, Walter played in 31 matches, and the following season, he set a personal record with 33 appearances. The new number 18 of the Gym is also a key midfielder for the French U21 team, with 9 caps alongside players like Kondogbia, Rabiot, and others. During gatherings, he mingled with Mouez Hassen and Vincent Koziello, a factor that influenced his decision.
“We are not used to investing such amounts (the specialized press mentions €1M plus bonuses) in a young player, but it is a gamble we wished to take,” stated Nice’s president, Jean-Pierre Rivère, during the press conference.
Rémi Walter joins a midfield that has impressed since the season began. The steadfast trio Seri-Mendy-Koziello is having a remarkable season, combining skill, ball control, and vertical play — aspects that the former Nancy player appreciates.
“There is a very interesting project at OGC Nice, which is why I decided to come here. When you watch the Gym play in Ligue 1, it is a young team that stands out,” explained the new Nice player.
The newcomer will be presented to the public at the Massena store this Wednesday at 5 pm and is expected to be in contention for a spot in the squad for the home game against Lorient on Saturday at 8 pm (if the league receives the release letter). However, Walter has not played since mid-December (the 17th, with a 1-0 victory at Evian-TG), so his physical condition might be uncertain.
