OGC Nice – 2025-26 Season Preview: Structural Solidity, Creative Gaps, and Youth Rotation

OGC Nice – 2025–26 Season Preview: Structural Solidity, Creative Gaps, and Youth Rotation

Nice enter the 2025–26 Ligue 1 campaign with a familiar defensive identity and a recalibrated attack. Despite losing a key striker and still leaning on veterans, the team’s rotation depth and positional flexibility provide resilience in a league defined by high-tempo transitions and physical duels.

Key Players & Core Structure

Marcin Bu?ka: 34 apps, 3,060 mins – Rock-solid keeper with growing command and elite shot-stopping.

Evan Guessand: 30(3) apps, 2,575 mins – Chief creative outlet and link player across the front line.

Hicham Boudaoui: 27(2) apps, 2,433 mins – Central to midfield stability and off-ball coverage.

Jonathan Clauss: 27(1) apps, 2,312 mins – Tireless wide option who offers width and overlapping threat.

Moïse Bombito: 25(2) apps, 2,195 mins – Defensive anchor in a back three or four, excels in duels.

Dante: 21(2) apps, 1,967 mins – Still reliable at 41; used more selectively for structure and experience.

Melvin Bard: 24 apps, 1,942 mins – Overlaps and presses well from the left; starter with defensive maturity.

Youssouf Ndayishimiye: 23(1) apps, 1,921 mins – Central defensive stability and aerial strength.

Gaëtan Laborde (departed): 20(8) apps, 1,840 mins – Former pressing forward and goal threat.

Pablo Rosario: 21(6) apps, 1,775 mins – Right-footed ball winner who shifts laterally in double pivot.

Mohamed-Ali Cho: 21(6) apps, 1,639 mins – Fast, creative, but inconsistent in the final third.

Ali Abdi: 17(6) apps, 1,388 mins – Utility midfielder with left-side coverage.

Tanguy Ndombele: 12(6) apps, 1,134 mins – Technical midfielder with reduced minutes.

Departures

Gaëtan Laborde (1,840 mins): The most impactful exit; leaves a gap in goal threat and pressing structure.

Tactical adjustments will be necessary to fill his role without over-reliance on Guessand or Cho.

New Arrivals & Youth Integrations

Badredine Bouanani (from Nice B): 11(15) apps, 1,034 mins – Left-footed creative 10, fits fluid systems.

Jérémie Boga (from Atalanta): 12(9) apps, 1,055 mins – Tricky winger and 1v1 threat, used in rotation.

Sofiane Diop (return from injury): 8(20) apps, 1,050 mins – Attacking midfielder now regaining fitness.

Baptiste Santamaria (from Rennes): 11(2) apps, 932 mins – Defensive-minded midfielder.

Mohamed Abdelmonem (from Al Ahly): 10(2) apps, 856 mins – Adds strength and composure at CB.

Antoine Mendy: 8(10) apps, 820 mins – Promoted fullback with overlapping traits.

Tom Louchet: 7(15) apps, 767 mins – Right-back/midfielder hybrid.

Isak Jansson (from Kalmar): 2(8) apps, 180 mins – Depth option on the left.

Yehvann Diouf (from Reims): Backup GK, role expected to grow.

Kojo Pepprah Dippong, Gabin Bernardeau, Juma Bah, Bartosz Zelazowski, Diptiril Coulibaly: All promoted from academy setup for rotational or long-term development purposes.

Tactical Outlook

Base Formation: 4-2-3-1 with Boudaoui and Rosario/Ndombele as holding pivots, Guessand behind a fluid forward like Cho or Boga.

Alternative: 3-4-2-1 with Clauss and Bard pushing high as wingbacks, with Ndayishimiye and Bombito central.

Wide Threat: Bouanani and Diop work off inverted runs or rotate into midfield in possession-heavy matches.

Defensive Transitions: Stronger than attack – focus remains on keeping shape, winning aerials, and minimizing errors.

Conclusion

Rating: 3.9 / 5

OGC Nice enter the season with a structurally sound squad, but lack a true center-forward capable of replacing Laborde’s consistent goal contribution. The team compensates with tactical versatility and emerging young talent. If Guessand and Cho deliver across the front line and Boudaoui continues to control midfield, Nice will remain firmly in the upper mid-table with European potential.