Just as talismanic captain and central defender José Fonte called time on his Ligue 1 Uber Eats adventure with a transfer to Braga, LOSC‘s recruitment cell came up trumps with the perfect replacement: France stopper Samuel Umtiti.
Dogue day
Plying his trade in Italy in 2022-23, on loan from Barcelona, Umtiti was keen to return home to France – he left Lyon for a successful spell with the Catalan giants back in 2016 – and has now found his new home in France’s north, with Les Dogues.
“I’m very happy to be joining this squad and this club,” Umtiti told his new club’s official website. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, and I’m very happy that it’s come about. I really liked the ambitious approach of the Chairman and the people at the club. I share their values of ambition, hard work and fighting spirit. I’ve grown up with this winning culture and I want to bring that little bit extra and that winning mentality to the team.”
Inspirational
A born leader, Umtiti got his first taste of the armband with Lyon in 2015 – when he was just 22 – and he has continued the winning form ever since, adding two La Liga titles, three Copas del Rey and two Spanish SuperCups to his 2018 World Cup and U20 World Cup titles with France.
It remains to be seen how Umtiti will link up with young central defensive partners Tiago Djalo, Lena Yoro and Bafodé Diakité, but if his past career is anything to go by, the 29-year-old will serve as a keystone in Les Dogues‘ defence, bringing his immense top-level experience to bear.