Monaco – 2025-26 Season Preview: Vertical Power, Midfield Control, and Strategic Depth

Monaco – 2025–26 Season Preview: Vertical Power, Midfield Control, and Strategic Depth

Monaco secured the 3rd position in the French League, amassing 61 points. Their season was marked by 63 goals scored and 41 conceded, resulting in a goal difference of +22.Monaco approach the 2025–26 Ligue 1 season with a reinforced midfield engine, rising attacking stars, and a sharper balance between experience and youthful potential.

Key Players & Core Structure

Maghnes Akliouche: 27(5) apps, 2,408 mins – Now a key creative and pressing presence in central-right attacking midfield.

Thilo Kehrer: 27 apps, 2,385 mins – Versatile defensive leader, central in stabilizing Monaco’s evolving back line.

Takumi Minamino: 27(4) apps, 2,246 mins – Energetic and intelligent forward link, adept between the lines.

Denis Zakaria: 24(2) apps, 2,148 mins – Physical midfielder doubling as centre-back; essential to defensive transitions.

Wilfried Singo: 24 apps, 2,093 mins – Advanced wide centre-back with strong one-on-one presence and overlaps.

Wanderson: 23(6) apps, 2,037 mins – Hybrid right-back/midfielder, offers final-third delivery and width.

Lamine Camara: 25(4) apps, 2,067 mins – Emerging midfield dynamo, progressing rapidly in possession and pressing metrics.

Caio Henrique: 21(6) apps, 1,983 mins – Reliable on the left, though injury issues reduce consistency.

Breel Embolo: 19(10) apps, 1,845 mins – Central striker providing back-to-goal play and vertical runs.

Eliesse Ben Seghir: 19(14) apps, 1,753 mins – Explosive young attacker, high xG involvement.

Philipp Köhn: 19 apps, 1,710 mins – Quietly effective GK, now trusted first-choice.

Departures

No major departures

New players

Christian Mawissa (from Toulouse): Young left-sided CB (1,502 mins), athletic and anticipatory, Rados?aw Majecki (returned from loan): GK depth, 1,350 minutes logged, Mika Biereth (from Arsenal): 16 apps, 1,240 mins – Forward with good link-up play and physicality, Aleksandr Golovin (reintegrated): Technical midfielder (13(6) apps, 1,155 mins), expected to rotate frequently, Soungoutou Magassa (internal): Versatile ball-winner (12(9) apps, 1,025 mins), Mohammed Salisu (from Southampton): Physical left CB with strong defensive duels (11(4) apps, 1,021 mins), George Ilenikhena (from Antwerp): 6(17) apps, 708 mins – Young forward with pace and pressing IQ, Jordan Teze (from PSV): 8(6) apps, 570 mins – Agile fullback capable of shifting to back three roles, Éric Dier (from Tottenham): 16(5) apps, 1,461 mins – Senior leader in central defense/midfield hybrid role, Ansu Fati (loan from Barcelona): Explosive but rotation-limited winger (3(9) apps, 233 mins), Paris Brunner (from Dortmund youth): 19-year-old high-upside striker in development, Chrislain Matsima and Ismail Jakobs remain as homegrown depth options.

Substitutes & Tactical Rotation

Salisu, Magassa, and Dier provide excellent cover across CB and DM roles, Fati, Golovin, and Ben Seghir rotate across the front three based on opposition profile, Mawissa and Teze are both tactically intelligent and athletic, capable of late-game stability or forward support, Pogba (after suspension) but still possesses match-breaking quality, Biereth and Brunner will fight for backup striker minutes behind Embolo.

AS Monaco have built an impressively adaptable and athletic squad for 2025–26. While still reliant on emerging talents like Camara and Ben Seghir, they’ve added tactical maturity through Dier, Salisu, and Pogba. If fitness Monaco can mount a genuine Champions League push and assert dominance in vertical transitions and structured pressing.