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Anthony Martial wants to play in France again. After a career arc that took him from Lyon’s academy to Old Trafford to Athens to Monterrey, the 30-year-old forward is reportedly eyeing OGC Nice as his next landing spot.
Nice is interested but needs to move players off its books before it can bring Martial in.
A career in search of a second wind
Martial spent nearly a decade at Manchester United, from 2015 to 2024, a stretch that included flashes of genuine brilliance mixed with long periods of frustration for both player and club.
After leaving United, he moved to AEK Athens. That didn’t stick.
Then came Monterrey in Mexico’s Liga MX, where he signed a contract in September 2025 that technically runs through 2027, with an option for an additional year. Martial has managed just one goal in more than 17 appearances during the 2025-2026 season at Monterrey.
Now, as a free agent in mid-June 2026, he’s looking to reset. Ligue 1, where he first made his name as a teenager, appears to be where he wants to do it.
Why Nice, and why it’s complicated
Nice is owned by INEOS, the same group that co-owns Manchester United. That shared corporate umbrella creates a natural pipeline of familiarity, even if the two clubs operate independently in football terms.
Nice can’t simply add Martial’s wages without first creating room by offloading players. The negotiations appear to be in early stages, and there are moving pieces on Nice’s side that need to fall into place before any deal could materialize.
For Martial, the appeal is straightforward. France is home. Ligue 1 is familiar ground. And playing in a competitive European league again beats watching his career quietly wind down in a market that clearly wasn’t the right fit.
What this means for all parties involved
Martial as a free agent means no transfer fee. The question becomes purely about wages and whether he can contribute enough on the pitch to justify his salary relative to younger alternatives.
Martial’s one goal in 17-plus appearances at Monterrey isn’t just a bad stat line. It’s a signal that his sharpness in front of goal may have eroded. Returning to Ligue 1 after two years of inconsistent playing time in Greece and Mexico is no guarantee of a revival.
Watch for Nice’s outgoing transfers over the next few weeks. Those moves will determine whether this deal has a realistic path to completion.
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