Recently acquired by the Arnault family, Paris FC was expected to enter a new era. Increased ambitions, substantial financial backing, and a clear desire to establish itself permanently in Ligue 1: all the elements seemed to be in place. Yet, when it comes time to assess the transfer window, the picture is more nuanced. The capital club is struggling to strengthen its squad, even as its sporting situation remains worrying.
Mired in a relegation battle, PFC has yet to attract an international-calibre player capable of turning the season around. With the exception of German goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and Italian striker Ciro Immobile—two former European football stars, both aged 35—the club’s recruitment does little to hide the broader difficulties faced by the Parisian leadership on the transfer market.
Financial Power That Complicates Negotiations
Contrary to popular belief, Paris FC’s financial means do not always make negotiations easier. Quite the opposite. Aware of the club’s new economic stature, many selling clubs tend to artificially inflate their demands—a situation the management refuses to accept.
Arnaud Arnault has made this very clear: there is no question of “being taken for a ride.” Paris FC does not intend to overpay for players simply to speed up its development. This deliberate strategy has slowed down several leads and extended negotiations in a transfer window where patience is often hard to reconcile with sporting urgency.
A Persistent Lack of Sporting Appeal?
Beyond financial considerations, Paris FC still suffers from an image deficit. A young club with an empty trophy cabinet, it struggles to compete with the media prestige of its neighbour, Paris Saint-Germain. Despite a structured and ambitious project, PFC does not yet inspire dreams among major international stars.
Several targeted players have therefore chosen other destinations. Profiles such as Edin Džeko or N’Golo Kanté turned down the Paris option, drawn instead by more high-profile leagues or clubs competing on the European stage. This highlights another major obstacle: Paris FC does not take part in continental competitions, and Ligue 1—often described as lacking international appeal—struggles to serve as a decisive selling point.
Caught between financial caution, lack of prestige and the absence of European football, Paris FC finds itself out of sync on the transfer market. A major challenge for a club that must quickly turn its potential into results.
An Italian-Flavoured Winter Recruitment Drive
During this winter transfer window, Paris FC clearly leaned toward a strong Italian influence. Headlining the arrivals was Ciro Immobile, a 35-year-old Italian striker and former Lazio Rome star. A European champion with the Azzurri, the centre-forward has nonetheless struggled to rediscover his efficiency after difficulties establishing himself in Boulogne, despite a more convincing spell in Turkey, where he scored 19 goals in 41 appearances between 2024 and 2025.
At the same time, the Parisian club secured the loan of Luca Koleosho, a young Italian prospect from Burnley, until the end of the season, as well as that of Diego Coppola, another Italian international, loaned for six months by Brighton. These reinforcements are joined by Marshall Munetsi, a midfielder from Wolverhampton, also arriving on loan, and above all the young Rudy Matondo, aged 17. Signed from AJ Auxerre for €17.5 million, Paris FC this time opened its chequebook.
While this winter recruitment looks strong on paper, it nevertheless raises questions: of the five players brought in, four are only on loan until the end of the season. Were these players too expensive to secure on longer deals, or was Paris FC simply not convincing enough to keep them beyond a few months?
The answer will come in the next summer transfer window of 2026.
𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐨 👋
— Paris FC (@ParisFC) February 1, 2026
L’attaquant italien rejoint le Paris FC en provenance de Bologne 🤝
🔵⚪️ #CertifiéParis #ParisFC pic.twitter.com/SvHMReKZH5
