Initially cautious in the transfer market, OGC Nice became active during the month of August. The attack underwent a complete overhaul with the arrivals of Gauthier Hein, Mohamed Amoura and the return of Elye Wahi. In the defensive sector, Olivier Pantaloni will have to make strong choices to regain solidity.
After a 2025-2026 season marked by numerous tensions and more than mixed results (16th place in Ligue 1), OGC Nice starts its 2026-2027 season with the desire to redeem itself.
The objective set by the Gym’s new coach, Olivier Pantaloni, is clear: “I want to ensure that OGC Nice does not experience another season as painful as last season”.
To do so, Nice did not waste time in the transfer market. According to Transfermarkt, Nice recorded 20 arrivals for 21 departures. OGC Nice is therefore the third most active French club in the transfer market, behind Lens and Strasbourg.
In terms of departures, Nice parted ways with several of its unwanted players such as Jérémie Boga and Terem Moffi. The Nice board therefore drastically reduced its wage bill, one of the major objectives of English owner INEOS.
Without recruiting big stars in their prime, OGC Nice managed to sign a mix of experienced players and young prospects. A smart transfer market, a largely revamped squad, and a new balance to find.
A dazzling attack on paper
This was the biggest task of this transfer market: to find reliability in attack. Gone are the exorbitant spending on players who don’t know Ligue 1, OGC Nice was more pragmatic.
The return of Elye Wahi is proof of this. Author of five goals and one assist in 14 Ligue 1 matches last season, the darling of the Allianz Riviera will be highly anticipated. He will have to confirm his good understanding with Sofiane Diop, the club’s top scorer in the championship last season with 8 goals.
It is Gauthier Hein who will come to support this duo. The former Metz striker has a very unique profile. He is neither very fast nor provocative with the ball at his feet, but the danger comes from his left foot. Capable of delivering passes between the lines or fine strikes from the edge of the penalty area, he can be a permanent threat if he finds confidence.
In the first two matchdays, he never managed to look dangerous, often isolated on the right wing of the attack. At Metz last season, he alternated between the right wing and the number 10 position. Olivier Pantaloni will have to find the right formula to exploit all his qualities.
And, if these three players have a good chance of being in the starting lineup in the attack in the coming matches, Mohamed Amoura should join the fight for starting spots. The former Wolfsburg player has arguments to put forward. Started as a number 9 or in the left wing last year, he comes off two very interesting seasons in the Bundesliga. (10 goals and 10 assists in 2024-2025 / 8 goals and 3 assists in 2025-2026).
Will Olivier Pantaloni take the risk of fielding Elye Wahi, Sofiane Diop, Gauthier Hein and Mohamed Amoura together, in a 4-2-3-1 system, for example. Unlikely when you know how much the former Lorient coach is attached to his 3-4-3.
Solidity to regain
Second worst defence in Ligue 1 last season with 60 goals conceded, almost two goals per match, OGC Nice also had to revamp its structure. An experienced midfield, and confidence in young players in defence, that was the roadmap at the start of the transfer market.
But injuries changed that. Arrived for free in early July, Laurent Abergel, Olivier Pantaloni’s right-hand man at Lorient, suffered a cruciate ligament rupture against Cagliari in a friendly. As a result, it is finally Axel Witsel, who arrived late in the transfer window, who will play this metronome role.
In defence, Dante’s retirement was supposed to open the door to young players. The return of Moïse Bombito, injured all last season, was eagerly awaited. But despite a full World Cup with Canada, the young Nice defender suffered a setback. Another operation on his tibia is being considered, for an absence of several months.
In the heart of the defence, four players will share three spots. Youssouf Ndayishimiye will be the leader, accompanied by young Xavier Mandza, 17 years old, Mohamed Abdelmonem, returning from injury, or Antoine Mendy.
On the flanks, Jonathan Clauss will be in charge of his right wing, with the obligation to raise his level of play compared to the previous season. Following Melvin Bard’s departure, it is the former Saint-Étienne player Niels Nkounkou who will occupy the left wing. He is said to already be in great form, and ready to play whenever he’s needed.
Guilty of several technical imprecisions against Paris FC, the Nice defence must also find patterns and stability to support a Yehvann Diouf who seems to lack confidence.
With one point taken in two matches this season, no goals scored for three goals conceded, the appealing transfer market on paper still needs to materialize on the pitch.
The next match Saturday evening against Le Mans, a newly promoted club, will already be very important in the trajectory of this 2026-2027 season. A match in which the Eagles will wear their third shirt, in tribute to the 86 victims of the July 14, 2016 attack.
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