Marseille has further strengthened their squad for the upcoming Ligue 1 season by securing the signing of striker Elye Wahi from Lens. The 21-year-old French forward, who was Lens’ record signing just one season ago, joins Marseille for a reported fee of €25 million ($27.4 million). This transfer comes at a discount compared to the €35 million Lens paid for Wahi last year when he moved from Montpellier.
Wahi’s arrival marks Marseille’s ninth new signing since the end of last season, adding to a list of new arrivals that includes notable names like Mason Greenwood, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and Lilian Brassier. The young striker made a significant impact during his time at Lens, scoring 12 goals in 37 appearances across all competitions, including the winning goal in a memorable Champions League victory over Arsenal. However, his league goal tally of nine fell short of the 19 he scored for Montpellier in the 2022-23 season.
Marseille, who finished eighth in Ligue 1 last season and missed out on European qualification, are clearly aiming for a strong return under new manager Roberto De Zerbi. De Zerbi, who took over in June, had indicated that significant changes would be made to the squad ahead of the new season, which kicks off this weekend. With the addition of Wahi, Marseille looks set to challenge for a top spot in Ligue 1.
