Mercato – OM: a promising move for Laporte

Central defender Aymeric Laporte has reached an agreement with Al-Nassr to be released from his contract at the end of the 2024-2025 season. And the Spanish international has reportedly already made a commitment to the club from Marseille!

With qualification for next season’s Champions League officially confirmed, Olympique de Marseille can now look ahead to the summer mercato with high hopes. With 45 goals conceded in 33 Ligue 1 matches, the current 2nd-placed club has a real defensive task ahead of it. And for several weeks now, one name has been coming up: that of Al-Nassr central defender Aymeric Laporte.

Soon to be free, has Laporte already signed a pre-contract with OM?

On Tuesday, Saudi Arabian media outlet Arriyadiyah reported an agreement between the Saudi Arabian club and the Spanish international to end their collaboration at the end of the 2024-2025 season, despite a contract running until June 2026. Soon to be a free agent, the former Manchester City player will have the opportunity to sign for the club of his choice this summer.

Is this a risk for OM, who have been active on this dossier since last winter and are potentially under threat from strong competition in Europe? Perhaps not… For its part, the Madrid daily AS refers to several reports concerning a pre-contract already signed by Laporte in favor of Marseille! If confirmed, this would be excellent news for Marseille’s project.

A good deal in prospect

On paper, a free transfer for the Agen-born player would represent an almost unhoped-for coup for Marseille. Bought for 27.5 million euros by Al-Nassr in August 2023, Laporte is currently valued at 18 million euros by Transfermarkt. From a sporting point of view, the 30-year-old has not lost any of his competitive rhythm in Saudi Arabia, having played 30 games this season. What’s more, his qualities (a left-handed player, at ease with his restarts and experienced) make him a rare commodity on the market. A perfect move for Marseille?