The 2025/26 season finds RC Lens in a state of ambitious consolidation under the guidance of Will Still, the young English-Belgian manager who took the helm in 2024 following Franck Haise’s departure to Nice. Les Sang et Or (The Blood and Gold) have maintained their reputation as Ligue 1’s most thrilling overachievers, combining high-intensity pressing with remarkable tactical sophistication. The Stade Bollaert-Delelis, with its famous “mining lens” atmosphere and passionate supporters, remains one of French football’s most intimidating venues. Lens’s remarkable runner-up finish in 2022/23 is no longer viewed as a fluke; the club has established itself as a genuine European contender, consistently challenging for Champions League qualification. This season’s squad reflects Will Still’s tactical vision: athletic defenders, relentless midfielders, and a fluid attack that prioritises vertical transitions and collective pressing. Below lies an exhaustive examination of Lens’s first-team roster for 2025/26, organised by position, with each player’s journey, financial details, and stylistic fingerprints dissected thoroughly.
Goalkeepers
1. Brice Samba
Nationality: French (Congolese descent)
Former Clubs: Le Havre, Marseille, Caen (loan), Nottingham Forest
Transfer Fee: €5 million (2022)
Brice Samba has become one of Ligue 1’s finest goalkeepers, the French-Congolese shot-stopper providing reflexes, command, and distribution that have been instrumental in Lens’s European qualification campaigns. The 31-year-old’s shot-stopping (77% save percentage in 2024/25, 76% in 2025/26 to date) and command of the penalty area (88% cross-claiming success) have silenced pre-season sceptics. Samba’s distribution (89% pass completion), particularly his quick throws to initiate counters, suits Will Still’s high-tempo transition system. Having started 32 league matches in 2025/26, keeping 14 clean sheets, he has proven remarkably durable. Samba’s contract runs through 2029, with Lens rejecting January 2026 approaches from Premier League clubs. Samba’s performance against Paris Saint-Germain in October 2025—making 10 saves, including a penalty stop—demonstrated his elite quality.
2. Hervé Koffi
Nationality: Burkinabé
Former Clubs: Lille, Bastia (loan), Charleroi
Transfer Fee: €2 million (2024)
Hervé Koffi has accepted a rotational role behind Samba, providing Burkinabé international pedigree, cup competition cover, and long-term succession planning. The 28-year-old’s shot-stopping (73% save percentage in limited appearances) and distribution (87% pass completion) provide functional cover. Koffi started 8 matches in 2025/26 (cup competitions and Samba’s rest), keeping 3 clean sheets. Koffi’s contract runs through 2028.
3. Yannick Leliendre
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Lens academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Yannick Leliendre has served as emergency third-choice option following development with Lens’s youth setup. The 23-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
Defenders
1. Jonathan Gradit
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Tours, Caen
Transfer Fee: €2 million (2019)
Jonathan Gradit has become Lens’s defensive leader, the French centre-back providing experience, reading of the game, and aerial dominance across seven seasons at the club. The 33-year-old’s reading of the game—intercepting passes (2.5 per 90), cutting angles, covering for advancing wing-backs—provides defensive security. His aerial duel success (85%) leads Lens’s defence, neutralising target forwards and providing set-piece security. Gradit’s tackling (2.7 per 90) and blocks (1.3 per 90) demonstrate old-school defending. His partnership with Abdukodir Khusanov has conceded only 0.98 goals per 90 minutes over the 2025/26 season to date. Gradit’s contract runs through 2028.
2. Abdukodir Khusanov
Nationality: Uzbek
Former Clubs: Energetik-BGU Minsk, Shakhtyor Soligorsk, Lens
Transfer Fee: €1.5 million (2023)
Abdukodir Khusanov has emerged as one of Ligue 1’s most exciting young centre-backs, the Uzbek international providing recovery pace, physicality, and tactical intelligence across three seasons at the club. The 22-year-old’s recovery pace (35.3 km/h) and tackling (2.9 per 90) provide defensive security. Khusanov’s aerial duel success (84%) complements Gradit’s experience. Khusanov’s contract runs through 2029, with Lens rejecting January 2026 approaches.
3. Facundo Medina
Nationality: Argentine
Former Clubs: River Plate (youth), Talleres, RC Lens
Transfer Fee: €5 million (2020)
Facundo Medina has become Lens’s first-choice left-back, the Argentine international providing attacking thrust, crossing, and defensive aggression across six seasons at the club. The 26-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.9 per 90) and crossing (38% accuracy) created 5 assists in 2025/26. Medina’s contract runs through 2028.
4. Przemysław Frankowski
Nationality: Polish
Former Clubs: Jagiellonia Białystok, Chicago Fire
Transfer Fee: €3.5 million (2021)
Przemysław Frankowski has become Lens’s first-choice right-back, the Polish international providing energy, crossing, and defensive diligence across five seasons at the club. The 30-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.8 per 90) and crossing (37% accuracy) created 4 assists in 2025/26. Frankowski’s contract runs through 2028.
5. Deiver Machado
Nationality: Colombian
Former Clubs: Millonarios, Girona, Toulouse (loan), Lens
Transfer Fee: €3 million (2021)
Deiver Machado has provided left-back depth following his arrival from Girona, the Colombian international offering pace, crossing, and defensive improvement. The 31-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.5 per 90) and crossing (36% accuracy) created 2 assists in 2025/26. Machado’s contract runs through 2028.
6. Rubén Aguilar
Nationality: French (Spanish descent)
Former Clubs: Auxerre, Montpellier, Monaco
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2024)
Rubén Aguilar has provided right-back depth following his free transfer from Monaco, the French defender offering experience and crossing. The 32-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
7. Ismaëlo Ganiou
Nationality: French (Beninese descent)
Former Clubs: Lens academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Ismaëlo Ganiou has been named among the substitutes in 2025/26, the 20-year-old defender representing the future of Lens’s defensive depth.
Midfielders
1. Salis Abdul Samed (Vice-Captain)
Nationality: Ghanaian
Former Clubs: JMG Academy, Clermont Foot
Transfer Fee: €5 million (2022)
Salis Abdul Samed has become Lens’s midfield anchor, the Ghanaian international providing tackling, interceptions, and tactical discipline across four seasons at the club. The 25-year-old’s tackling (3.4 per 90) and interceptions (2.7 per 90) lead Lens’s midfield. His work rate (11.8 kilometres per match) and pressing intensity (11.5 pressures per 90) set Will Still’s standards. Samed’s passing (88% completion) remains secure; his role involves disruption and physical presence. Samed’s contract runs through 2029.
2. Andy Diouf
Nationality: French (Senegalese descent)
Former Clubs: Rennes, Basel (loan), Lens
Transfer Fee: €15 million (2023)
Andy Diouf has become Lens’s midfield engine, the French youth international providing ball-carrying, passing, and tactical intelligence across three seasons at the club. The 22-year-old’s ball-carrying (4.2 progressive carries per 90) and work rate provide midfield security. Diouf’s contract runs through 2029.
3. Nampalys Mendy
Nationality: Senegalese (French-born)
Former Clubs: Monaco, Nice, Leicester City
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2024)
Nampalys Mendy has provided midfield depth following his free transfer from Leicester City, the Senegalese international offering experience, passing security, and tactical discipline. The 33-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
4. Adrien Thomasson
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Evian TG, Nantes, Strasbourg
Transfer Fee: €5 million (2023)
Adrien Thomasson has provided attacking midfield depth following his arrival from Strasbourg, the French midfielder offering creativity, finishing, and set-piece delivery. The 32-year-old’s finishing (5 goals in 2025/26) and creativity (4 assists) provide functional depth. Thomasson’s contract runs through 2028.
5. Angelo Fulgini
Nationality: French (Italian descent)
Former Clubs: Valenciennes, Angers, Mainz 05, Lens
Transfer Fee: €2 million (2024)
Angelo Fulgini has provided attacking midfield depth following his arrival from Mainz 05, the French midfielder offering dribbling, creativity, and passing. The 29-year-old’s finishing (3 goals in 2025/26) provides functional depth. Fulgini’s contract runs through 2028.
6. Tom Pouilly
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Lens academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Tom Pouilly has been named among the substitutes in 2025/26, the 20-year-old midfielder representing the future of Lens’s midfield depth.
Forwards
1. Wesley Saïd
Nationality: French (Comorian descent)
Former Clubs: Dijon, Toulouse, Lens
Transfer Fee: €3 million (2023)
Wesley Saïd has become Lens’s primary attacking weapon, the French-Comorian forward providing finishing, movement, and hold-up play across three seasons at the club. The 30-year-old’s finishing (14 goals in 2025/26) and conversion rate (26%) provide consistent scoring threat. Saïd’s hold-up play (73% success receiving back to goal) and movement off the shoulder (3.2 shots per 90) occupy defenders. Saïd’s contract runs through 2029.
2. Florian Sotoca
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Montpellier, Grenoble, Lens
Transfer Fee: €2 million (2019)
Florian Sotoca has become Lens’s creative heartbeat and fan favourite, the French forward providing assists, work rate, and leadership across seven seasons at the club. The 35-year-old’s creativity (9 assists in 2025/26) and finishing (6 goals) provide elite production from attacking midfield and forward positions. Sotoca’s contract runs through 2028.
3. Adrien Thomasson (covered in midfield)
4. Morgan Guilavogui
Nationality: French (Guinean descent)
Former Clubs: Paris FC, Lens
Transfer Fee: €2 million (2023)
Morgan Guilavogui has provided striker and wide depth following his arrival from Paris FC, the French-Guinean forward offering physicality, finishing, and work rate. The 27-year-old’s finishing (7 goals in 2025/26) and hold-up play (71% success) provide functional depth. Guilavogui’s contract runs through 2029.
5. Rémy Labeau-Lascary
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Lens academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Rémy Labeau-Lascary has emerged as a promising wide option following his graduation from Lens’s academy, the 21-year-old forward providing pace, dribbling, and finishing. Labeau-Lascary’s finishing (3 goals in 2025/26 in limited minutes) suggests potential. Labeau-Lascary’s contract runs through 2029.
6. Ayanda Sishuba
Nationality: Belgian (South African descent)
Former Clubs: Lens academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Ayanda Sishuba has provided attacking midfield and wide depth following his graduation from Lens’s academy, the 20-year-old Belgian offering creativity and dribbling. Sishuba’s contract runs through 2029.
7. Ibrahima Baldé
Nationality: Senegalese
Former Clubs: Lens academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Ibrahima Baldé has been named among the substitutes in 2025/26, the 19-year-old forward representing the future of Lens’s attacking depth.
8. Nzuzi Mata
Nationality: French (Angolan descent)
Former Clubs: Lens academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Nzuzi Mata has provided emergency wide depth following his graduation from Lens’s youth setup. The 20-year-old’s contract runs through 2029.
Conclusion
Lens’s 2025/26 squad represents the most thrilling and hard-working group assembled since the club’s return to Ligue 1 in 2020, a testament to Will Still’s coaching, the recruitment team’s intelligence (Khusanov, Diouf, Samed), and the academy’s continued production (Labeau-Lascary, Sishuba, Ganiou). The defence, anchored by Jonathan Gradit’s French experience and Abdukodir Khusanov’s Uzbek athleticism, provides platform for Lens’s high-pressing, transitional system. The midfield, dominated by Salis Abdul Samed’s Ghanaian destruction and Andy Diouf’s French energy, controls matches through pressing, disruption, and physicality. The attack, headlined by Wesley Saïd’s finishing and Florian Sotoca’s creativity, carries sufficient goal threat to secure European qualification. Crucially, Lens has balanced immediate competitiveness with financial sustainability; Khusanov, Diouf, and Samed represent significant resale value while contributing immediately. The looming challenge involves maintaining Champions League qualification despite competing with financially superior clubs like PSG, Marseille, and Monaco – and continuing to develop talents for profitable sales while remaining competitive. Yet the Stade Bollaert-Delelis’s legendary, mining-town atmosphere provides emotional fuel. Lens no longer surprises opponents; they are respected, studied, and feared as one of Ligue 1’s most consistent forces. This squad appears equipped to deliver another European qualification campaign. Les Sang et Or.
