Stade Brestois 29 - injuries & suspensions October 2026

Brest begin the 2026/2027 season after finishing 12th in Ligue 1 with 39 points. Two years after their historic qualification for the Champions League, the club are back fighting for far more modest goals. Their top-flight status was never in serious danger, although the closing stages of the campaign left a sense of disappointment. Brest failed to win any of their last nine matches. There have been changes in the dugout over the summer. The club want to maintain their existing direction, while giving a greater role to younger players.

Julien Lachuer takes charge

Julien Lachuer has been appointed as the new head coach after working alongside Éric Roy for several years. Following the coach’s death on 17 June, the club’s leadership opted to promote his assistant. Lachuer knows the squad, the players and the way the club works, but this will be his first permanent role in charge of a senior team. It was under Roy that Brest went from battling relegation to finishing on the Ligue 1 podium and playing in the Champions League. Lachuer faces a difficult task: taking over from a coach who played such a major role in the team’s recent success.

Departures have weakened squad depth

Brest have not lost many first-team regulars in permanent transfers, but several players have returned to the clubs from which they were on loan. Radosław Majecki has left the club and, after returning to Monaco, was loaned to Pafos. Junior Díaz has returned to Troyes, while Soumaïla Coulibaly, Éric Junior Dina Ebimbe and Rémy Labeau-Lascary have also departed. Goalkeeper Grégoire Coudert has moved to Burnley as well.

The biggest loss in attack, however, is Romain Del Castillo. The winger spent five seasons in Brittany, scoring 30 goals and providing 31 assists in 151 appearances. He joined Osasuna in September. Del Castillo could both create danger in front of goal himself and set up chances for his teammates. He was also an important set-piece taker. Following his departure, Brest must find a player who can take on at least some of those responsibilities.

New faces and opportunities for young players

Joseph Nonge, a 21-year-old Belgian signed from Turkish side Kocaelispor, has joined the midfield. He previously developed in the academies of Anderlecht and Juventus and gained experience in French football during a loan spell at Troyes. Experienced centre-back Gautier Lloris has strengthened the defence after moving from Le Havre. Brest have also signed Mamady Diambou from Salzburg and Giovani Versini from Pau, and loaned Noah Edjouma from Lille. Egil Selvik has joined on loan from Watford to strengthen the goalkeeping department.

The core remains important

Despite the changes, Brest have kept several players who have been central to the team in recent seasons. Captain Brendan Chardonnet will continue to marshal the defence, while Hugo Magnetti will do the work in midfield. Ludovic Ajorque should play an important role up front after scoring eight goals and providing ten assists in Ligue 1 last season.

Ajorque is not a striker who simply waits for a pass in the penalty area. He can hold up the ball under pressure and lay it off to advancing teammates, helping the team move into attack. With Del Castillo gone, those qualities could become even more important. Brest need not only a new source of goals, but also players capable of creating scoring opportunities.

A season of rebuilding

Brest face a different kind of season from the one that brought Champions League qualification. This time, the priority will be securing their Ligue 1 status without too much trouble and avoiding a repeat of the previous campaign’s poor finish. Del Castillo’s departure has deprived the team of one of its main creators, while changes in goal and defence mean some players will have to build new partnerships. Lachuer knows the team from the inside, which should help him get off to a good start. Now, however, he must prove he can lead Brest on his own and keep them clear of the bottom places in the table.