Nice - injuries & suspensions October 2026

Nice are coming off a very poor season. The team finished 16th in Ligue 1 and only secured their top-flight status after a relegation play-off against Saint-Étienne. They also failed to impress in the Europa League, exiting after the league phase. Reaching the Coupe de France final offered some consolation, but Nice lost to Lens. The club set about rebuilding the squad over the summer, and financial constraints made for a long list of departures.

Olivier Pantaloni tasked with rebuilding the team

Olivier Pantaloni was appointed as the new manager, signing a two-year deal. He previously worked at Lorient, whom he led to promotion to Ligue 1. He faces a tougher task at Nice: improving the results of a team that struggled to find consistent form for most of last season. The people running the club have also changed. Maurice Cohen has taken over as president, while Roger Ricort is in charge of football matters. Pantaloni will therefore be working in a new environment, with a squad that looks very different from last season's.

Departures and the need to cut costs

Several players who regularly featured for the first team have left Nice. Terem Moffi has moved to Hamburger SV, Mohamed-Ali Cho to Hull City, Kojo Oppong to Fenerbahçe, and Charles Vanhoutte has joined Feyenoord. Jeremie Boga returned to Juventus after his loan spell ended, while Melvin Bard joined Leeds on loan. The club have also been left by m.in. Tom Louchet and Gabin Bernardeau.

Such a large number of changes will affect the team's play. Moffi was one of the options up front, Cho brought pace to the game, and Vanhoutte provided support in midfield. The manager must find replacements for them and establish a new pecking order within the squad. Financial constraints are an added problem. INEOS expects costs to be cut, significantly limiting the club's transfer options.

Experience and new faces

One of the most recognisable new arrivals is Axel Witsel. The Belgian has spent many seasons at the highest level and can help with build-up play and organisation in midfield. Laurent Abergel, formerly of Lorient, has also joined Nice. Gauthier Hein is expected to bolster the attack and could also prove useful at set pieces.

After Moffi's departure, the club needed new forwards. Nathan Ngoumou was signed from Borussia Mönchengladbach, while Mohammed Amoura has joined on loan from Wolfsburg and Elye Wahi on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt. Amoura can play both as a centre-forward and on the wing. Wahi, meanwhile, will be looking to rebuild his standing after an inconsistent spell in Germany. The defence has also been reshaped. Niels Nkounkou and Alidu Seidu are expected to provide more options at full-back.

Leaders still needed

The rebuilt squad still includes players Nice can build their game around. Hicham Boudaoui remains an important figure in midfield, while Sofiane Diop is responsible for creating chances. Jonathan Clauss and Youssouf Ndayishimiye bring experience to the defence. Yéhvann Diouf remains the first-choice goalkeeper.

Pantaloni above all needs players who can help the team avoid another nerve-racking season. Boudaoui and Diop will have to take on more responsibility for the team's play, while the new arrivals must quickly learn how to operate within the manager's system.

Time to find stability

After finishing 16th last season, Nice cannot afford another poor start. The team must move clear of the relegation zone as quickly as possible to avoid fighting for survival until the final rounds once again. The departures of several key players and limited transfer options make that task even harder. Pantaloni takes over a team that has undergone significant changes and must find a system that will allow them to pick up points consistently. The experience of some of the players will not be enough unless Nice improve their results and show more consistent form than they did last season.