Lille have announced the signing of defender Tanguy Nianzou from Sevilla on a two-year deal with an option for a further season. The 24-year-old returns to Ligue 1, six years after leaving Paris Saint-Germain for Bayern Munich in 2018. The club confirmed the transfer on Saturday, adding much-needed depth to their defensive options.
Nianzou’s time at Sevilla was hampered by injuries, including issues with his hip and hamstring, limiting him to 62 appearances in four years. Despite the setbacks, he demonstrated promise during his earlier career at Bayern Munich, where he won the Bundesliga title in 2022. He also represented France at youth level, earning three caps and scoring twice for the Under-21s.
The move to Lille comes at a time of transition for the club, with Davide Ancelotti recently appointed as head coach. Lille are rebuilding their defense following the departures of Chancel Mbemba and Aïssa Mandi at the end of June. Nianzou is expected to compete for a starting position alongside existing defenders and provide tactical flexibility for Ancelotti.
Nianzou is the third signing of the summer for Lille, following the arrivals of Turkish winger Önel Basar from NEC Nijmegen and Swiss right-back Loun Srdanovic from Servette Geneva. Both Basar and Srdanovic featured in Lille’s 3-0 victory over La Louvière in a friendly match on Saturday, marking their debuts for the club. The addition of Nianzou further strengthens Lille’s squad as they prepare for the upcoming Ligue 1 season. This signing indicates Lille’s ambition to solidify their defense and challenge for a top position in the league.
Lille will be hoping Nianzou can recapture the form he showed earlier in his career and become a key player in Ancelotti’s system.
