Headline: Olympique de Marseille Faces Major Changes Ahead of New Season Amid Austerity Measures
A period of austerity has led Olympique de Marseille to implement significant cuts this summer. In this year’s GFFN Guide (found HERE), we analyze the club and their chances of success this season.
KEY MAN
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“We won’t go over the top,” Timothy Weah remarked in his measured tone, managing a smile despite the evident fatigue ahead of Marseille’s final match of the 2025-2026 season. He added, “It’s good to be in Europe even if we aren’t in the Champions League.” Les Olympiens managed to secure Europa League football after the collapse of the project led by Pablo Longoria, Medhi Benatia, and Roberto De Zerbi. During the club’s challenging moments, they frequently turned to Weah for media engagements. With a sly smile and growing confidence, he stated, “We could win the Europa League. That will be our work next season.”
Fast-forward two months, and those words now seem overly optimistic. New president Stéphane Richard and sporting director Grégory Lorenzi face the daunting task of significantly cutting costs and increasing transfer income. At the beginning of the transfer window, GFFN reports that Marseille was open to offers for nearly every first-team player. Consequently, Mason Greenwood, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gerónimo Rulli, and Facundo Medina have all left the club. This attitude also applies to Weah, although Marseille would prefer to retain him.
The American has emerged as a critical player in the squad, not merely by circumstance. Even before Marseille’s summer exodus, Weah stood out as one of OM’s more reliable performers last season. His dynamic runs down the right flank and synergy with Greenwood represented some of the brighter moments of the campaign, and his adaptability made him valuable across various formations. In their final pre-season match against Atlético Madrid, Weah donned the captain’s armband after the leadership was stripped from Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. While questions linger about the new direction at the Vélodrome, Weah appears poised to take a prominent role in the unfolding project.
SIGNING TO WATCH
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Despite significant player departures, Marseille remains the only club in Ligue 1 yet to make any summer signings. The club must prioritize sales before focusing on rebuilding, and each departure creates another gap to fill. Potential deals for Guillaume Restes and a loan for West Ham defender Jean-Clair Todibo have been discussed, but nothing has been finalized. This has resulted in a reverse approach to the transfer window: dismantle first, then hope there is enough time and budget for reconstruction. This approach, imposed by the DNCG and UEFA, leaves OM struggling at the start of the new season.
SQUAD ANALYSIS
“Everything must go.” This sentiment seems pervasive around Marseille this summer. Following Greenwood’s €39m transfer to Fenerbahçe, Aubameyang, Rulli, and Medina were next on the list of departures. A proposed transfer for Nayef Aguerd to Real Sociedad fell through at the last moment, while Newcastle’s efforts to sign Højbjerg ended when the Danish midfielder declined the move. As a result, Marseille’s management opted to remove Højbjerg from his captaincy – a choice that Génésio was compelled to accept. This decision highlights Marseille’s current circumstances: while coach Génésio might prefer to retain Højbjerg, the club requires the financial boost from his sale. Amidst this upheaval, talent remains within the squad.
Igor Paixão looks ready to take on a leading attacking role following Greenwood’s exit, while Amine Gouiri offers strong options in central positions. Angel Gomes brings technical skill, Quinten Timber contributes physicality, and if Højbjerg stays, the midfield could stand up well against much of Ligue 1, despite the Europa League stretching the already thin squad. Concerns remain about defensive depth and overall strength, as Medina has departed, Aguerd’s situation is uncertain, and even Geoffrey Kondogbia has been utilized in a defensive capacity. Marseille is set to begin Ligue 1 and Europa League campaigns with a weakened squad that has yet to see reinforcements. Lorenzi, who built his reputation at Brest through smart recruitment and maximizing limited resources, finds time increasingly running short.
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THE MANAGER
“This is a decision that was dictated to me by the club’s management. If I want to be completely frank, and I will be, it is not a decision that I agree with. But I am an employee; I have to submit to certain obligations. So we did it,” Bruno Génésio said, providing a revealing insight into his position before the new season commenced. He was justifying the removal of the captaincy from Højbjerg after the player turned down Newcastle. Génésio wanted to retain one of his key experienced players, while the club favored the financial benefits of a sale. Speaking with GFFN at La Commanderie during pre-season, he had already made a clear distinction between the sporting demands of his role and the financial challenges facing the club.
“When you are a coach, there are two aspects,” he noted. “The sporting aspect: obviously, when you have good players, you want to keep them. Then there is the financial aspect. I came here fully aware of the situation. I know things can move.” While Roberto De Zerbi represented Marseille’s volatility in the past, Génésio has presented a different approach. He focuses on pragmatism, dealing with an unpredictable situation without making grandiose promises. This practical approach might prove to be his most valuable trait.
VERDICT
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A year ago, Marseille pondered whether they could close the gap with Paris Saint-Germain. Currently, no one is seriously raising that question. The immediate priority is more fundamental: to remain competitive while rectifying the financial excesses of previous seasons. There remains sufficient talent within the squad for Marseille to vie for a European spot. Paixão could step up, Gouiri has the potential to score goals, and a midfield featuring Timber and possibly Højbjerg could compare favorably with much of Ligue 1, even with the challenges posed by Europa League commitments. Securing a European finish while restoring some financial stability would mark a significant step forward; returning to the Champions League would be an extraordinary achievement.
>> Download the 69-page GFFN Ligue 1 guide
GFFN | George Boxall
A period of austerity has seen Olympique de Marseille have to make significant cuts this summer. In this year’s GFFN Guide (found HERE), we analyse the club and their chances of success this season.
KEY MAN
Advertisement
“We won’t go over the top,” Timothy Weah said in his usual calm cadence, smiling despite the exhaustion before Marseille’s final game of the 2025-2026 season, before adding: “It’s good to be in Europe even if we aren’t in the Champions League.” Les Olympiens salvaged Europa League football from the collapse of the project constructed by Pablo Longoria, Medhi Benatia and Roberto De Zerbi. During those moments of crisis, the club more often than not turned to Weah to face the press. He did so with a wry smile and a quiet confidence that increasingly carried the mark of a leader. “We could win the Europa League,” he shrugged. “That will be our work next season.”
Fast-forward two months and those words border on naivety. New president Stéphane Richard and sporting director Grégory Lorenzi have been tasked with drastically reducing costs and generating significant transfer income. At the beginning of the window, GFFN understood Marseille were prepared to listen to offers for virtually every first-team player. Mason Greenwood, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gerónimo Rulli and Facundo Medina have subsequently all departed. The same principle applies to Weah, although Marseille would prefer to keep him.
The American has become arguably the most important player in the squad, and not simply by default. Even before Marseille’s summer selling frenzy, Weah was one of OM’s more consistent performers last season. His marauding runs down the right and combination play with Greenwood were among the brighter aspects of the campaign, while his versatility made him useful in several systems. Marseille’s final pre-season friendly against Atlético Madrid saw the American wear the captain’s armband after the hierarchy removed it from Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. There are misgivings and uncertainties surrounding the new project at the Vélodrome, but in any case, Weah looks set to be the leading figure within it.
SIGNING TO WATCH
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OM remain the only Ligue 1 club yet to recruit this summer despite losing several major players. Marseille need to sell before they can rebuild, while every departure creates another position requiring attention. Potential deals exist for Guillaume Restes and a loan for West Ham defender Jean-Clair Todibo, but nothing has yet been completed. The result is a transfer window being conducted in reverse: dismantle first, then hope there is sufficient time and financial room to rebuild. It is a mode of functioning, imposed on the club by the DNCG and UEFA, that leaves OM on the back foot on the dawn of a new season.
SQUAD ANALYSIS
“Everything must go.” That has been the feeling around Marseille this summer. Greenwood’s €39m departure to Fenerbahçe began the process. Aubameyang, Rulli and Medina followed. A proposed departure for Nayef Aguerd to Real Sociedad collapsed at the final stage, while Newcastle’s attempt to sign Højbjerg ended when the Dane refused the move. Marseille’s hierarchy responded by removing Højbjerg as captain, a decision imposed upon Génésio. It neatly encapsulates OM’s position: Génésio would benefit from keeping Højbjerg, while financially the club wanted the sale. Strip away that dysfunction, and there is still talent here.
Igor Paixão looks capable of becoming the principal attacking threat following Greenwood’s departure, while Amine Gouiri remains a talented option centrally. Angel Gomes offers technical quality, Quinten Timber physicality and, if Højbjerg remains, there is the basis of a credible Ligue 1 midfield. The greater concern is defence and depth. Medina has gone, Aguerd’s future remains uncertain, and Génésio has even used Geoffrey Kondogbia at centre-back. Marseille are preparing for Ligue 1 and Europa League football with a squad that is weaker and, so far, has not been replenished. Lorenzi built his reputation at Brest through intelligent recruitment and extracting value from limited resources. But time is becoming an opponent of its own.
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THE MANAGER
“This is a decision that was dictated to me by the club’s management. If I want to be completely frank, and I will be, it is not a decision that I agree with. But I am an employee; I have to submit to certain obligations. So we did it.” Bruno Génésio could hardly have provided a more revealing assessment of his position before the season had even begun. He was explaining why Højbjerg had been stripped of the captaincy after refusing Newcastle. Génésio wanted to keep one of his most experienced players; the hierarchy wanted the financial benefit of selling him. Speaking to GFFN at La Commanderie during pre-season, Génésio had already separated the sporting demands of his job from the financial realities facing the club.
“When you are a coach, there are two aspects,” he explained. “The sporting aspect: obviously, when you have good players, you want to keep them. Then there is the financial aspect. I came here fully aware of the situation. I know things can move.” If Roberto De Zerbi embodied Marseille’s volatility, Génésio has so far represented something different. There has been little grandstanding and few promises. Instead, he has approached an unstable situation with pragmatism. That may ultimately be his most valuable quality.
VERDICT
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Twelve months ago, Marseille entered the season wondering whether they could begin closing the gap to Paris Saint-Germain. Nobody is seriously asking that question now. The immediate task is more fundamental: remain competitive while correcting the financial excesses of previous seasons. There is still enough talent for Marseille to challenge for Europe. Paixão could take another step forward, Gouiri has goals in him and a midfield containing Timber and potentially Højbjerg compares favourably with much of Ligue 1 even if Europa League football will stretch an already thin squad. A European finish while restoring some financial stability would represent meaningful progress; returning immediately to the Champions League would be an exceptional achievement.
>> Download the 69-page GFFN Ligue 1 guide
GFFN | George Boxall
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