(Lille) Lens, ship without a captain: Seko Fofana will evolve next season with Al-Nassr, the Saudi club of Cristiano Ronaldo, a departure expected for several days, but experienced with emotion by the player and his former club.
“Thank you for passing on your passion to me, thank you for your unconditional love and thank you for naming me captain of the adventure of a lifetime,” the 28-year-old Ivorian said in an Instagram video. “I leave you with a heavy heart, but above all a sense of accomplishment,” he added.
The Sang et Or praised the performance of their captain in a press release, which “will forever remain in the hearts of all Racing lovers”.
In addition to the five-time Portuguese Golden Ball, who arrived at Al-Nassr this winter, Fofana joins Croatian international Marcelo Brozovic and Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina, former OGC Nice, in his new club.
Other big names have signed in recent weeks in Saudi Arabia, which has become the new El Dorado for football stars: the French Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté at Al-Ittihad or the Senegalese Kalidou Koulibaly and the Portuguese Ruben Neves, who have joined Al-Hilal.
The name of the Ivorian international (8 caps, 3 goals) is less flashy, but it’s a nice catch for the Saudi league: Fofana was one of the best players in Ligue 1 last season, the only midfielder named for the trophy for best player in the championship alongside four attackers (Kylian Mbappé, Loïs Openda, Jonathan David and Lionel Messi).
He leaves the north of France as Lens prepares to return to the Champions League for the first time in 21 years, thanks to the exceptional 2022/2023 season of the artesian club, second in Ligue 1 one point behind Paris SG.
Trained at Paris FC, a club in his hometown, and in Lorient, Seko Fofana signed his first contract with Manchester City in 2014, but has never played a professional match with the Citizens. Loaned to Fulham then Bastia, he then played four years in the Udinese jersey before joining Lens, just promoted to Ligue 1, in the summer of 2020.
Inducted captain by coach Franck Haise at the start of the 2021/2022 season, he wore the armband 72 times with the Blood and Gold. From his central midfield position, “Captain Seko”, the number 8 flocked jersey, scored 21 goals in 112 games with Lens.
Last season, he sometimes lacked sharpness, but knew how to be present in the big meetings, like his magnificent goal for the opener against Marseille, on May 6 (victory 2-1) .
Seko Fofana’s three seasons in Artois bear witness to the club’s progress in recent years, with two seventh places in 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 before second place, therefore, last season.
“I want, on behalf of the club, to especially salute an exemplary captain who has been sparkling and has shown the way for three seasons,” said RC Lens general manager Arnaud Pouille.
“Proof of his deep attachment to Racing, he will very soon become the first player leaving a club to become a shareholder,” he said.
RC Lens also announced on Tuesday the departure of Polish international Adam Buksa, on loan to Turkish club Antalyaspor with an option to buy.
These two departures follow that of Belgian striker Loïs Openda, 21 goals last season, who joined RB Leipzig on Saturday.
Lens announced the same day the recruitment of a Colombian international winger, Oscar Cortes, 19, until 2028, the club’s fifth recruit, after midfielders Stijn Spierings (out of contract in Toulouse) and Neil El Aynaoui ( Nancy), and forwards Morgan Guilavogui (Paris FC) and Andy Diouf (Basel).
