The 2025/26 season finds FC Metz back in Ligue 1 following their promotion from Ligue 2 as champions in 2024/25, ending a one-year exile that tested the club’s resilience. Les Grenats (The Maroons), playing at the historic Stade Saint-Symphorien in Lorraine, have returned to the top flight under the guidance of Stéphane Le Mignan, the French manager who masterminded their immediate promotion. The club’s famous academy, which produced talents like Robert Pires, Franck Ribéry, and Sadio Mane, continues to supply homegrown players to the first team. This season’s squad reflects Le Mignan’s pragmatic identity: organised defenders, hard-working midfielders, and a collective work rate designed to compete against more illustrious opponents. The summer transfer window saw strategic reinforcements, with Metz relying on experienced veterans, promising loanees, and homegrown products. Below lies an exhaustive examination of Metz’s first-team roster for 2025/26, organised by position, with each player’s journey, financial details, and stylistic fingerprints dissected thoroughly.
Goalkeepers
Alexandre Oukidja
Nationality: Algerian (French-born)
Former Clubs: Lille (youth), Strasbourg, AS Béziers (loan), Metz
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2018)
Alexandre Oukidja has become Metz’s undisputed number one and longest-serving current player, the Algerian international providing reflexes, command, and leadership across eight seasons at the club. The 38-year-old’s shot-stopping (75% save percentage in 2024/25 Ligue 2, 73% in 2025/26 Ligue 1 to date) and command of the penalty area (86% cross-claiming success) have been instrumental in Metz’s promotion and survival campaign. Oukidja’s distribution (87% pass completion) remains functional. Having started 30 league matches in 2025/26, keeping 10 clean sheets, he has proven remarkably durable for his age. Oukidja’s contract runs through 2028.
Guillaume Dietsch
Nationality: French (German descent)
Former Clubs: Metz academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Guillaume Dietsch has accepted a rotational role behind Oukidja, providing French backup depth, cup competition cover, and long-term succession planning following his graduation from Metz’s academy. The 25-year-old’s shot-stopping (73% save percentage in limited appearances) and distribution (86% pass completion) provide functional cover. Dietsch started 8 matches in 2025/26 (cup competitions and Oukidja’s rest), keeping 3 clean sheets. Dietsch’s contract runs through 2029.
Marc-Aurèle Caillard
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Clermont Foot, Metz
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2023)
Marc-Aurèle Caillard has served as emergency third-choice option following his free transfer from Clermont Foot. The 31-year-old’s contract runs through 2027.
Defenders
Ismaël Traoré (Captain)
Nationality: Ivorian (French-born)
Former Clubs: Auxerre, Angers, Metz
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2022)
Ismaël Traoré has become Metz’s captain and defensive leader, the Ivorian international providing physicality, aerial dominance, and organisational communication across four seasons at the club. The 39-year-old’s reading of the game—intercepting passes (2.4 per 90), cutting angles, covering for advancing full-backs—provides defensive security. His aerial duel success (86%) leads Metz’s defence, neutralising target forwards and providing set-piece security. Traoré’s tackling (2.7 per 90) and blocks (1.3 per 90) demonstrate old-school defending. His partnership with Fali Candé has conceded only 1.15 goals per 90 minutes over the 2025/26 season to date. Traoré’s contract runs through 2027.
Fali Candé
Nationality: Portuguese (Guinea-Bissauan descent)
Former Clubs: Portimonense, Metz
Transfer Fee: €2 million (2022)
Fali Candé has become Traoré’s long-term partner, the Portuguese-Guinea-Bissauan centre-back providing physicality, recovery pace, and tactical intelligence across four seasons at the club. The 28-year-old’s aerial duel success (85%) and tackling (2.7 per 90) provide defensive security. Candé’s contract runs through 2029.
Koffi Kouao
Nationality: Ivorian (French-born)
Former Clubs: Vizela, Metz
Transfer Fee: €2 million (2024)
Koffi Kouao has become Metz’s first-choice right-back, the Ivorian defender providing pace, crossing, and defensive improvement across two seasons at the club. The 27-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.7 per 90) and crossing (37% accuracy) created 3 assists in 2025/26. Kouao’s contract runs through 2029.
Matthieu Udol
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Metz academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Matthieu Udol has become Metz’s first-choice left-back, the French defender providing energy, crossing, and defensive diligence following his graduation from the club’s academy. The 29-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.6 per 90) and crossing (36% accuracy) created 2 assists in 2025/26. Udol’s contract runs through 2028.
Sofiane Alakouch
Nationality: Moroccan
Former Clubs: Nîmes Olympique, FC Lausanne-Sport (on loan), Paris FC (on loan)
Transfer Fees: Estimated €8.7 million in 2020
Sofiane Alakouch is a Moroccan right-back who began his career at Nîmes Olympique before moving to FC Metz in 2021, with subsequent loans to Lausanne-Sport and Paris FC, though specific transfer fees for these moves are not publicly recorded. A technically capable and energetic full-back standing 175 cm tall, Alakouch is best known for his pace and acceleration, which he uses to support attacking play as an overlapping dribbler, while also offering versatility to play on the left or as a wing-back. Despite once being valued as high as €8.7 million in late 2020, his time at Metz was limited to just 9 league appearances due to a lack of consistent playing time, leading to a significant decline in his market value. He has earned 4 senior caps for Morocco, having switched allegiance from France where he represented the youth teams, and was part of Morocco’s squad for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.
Maxime Colin
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Troyes, Anderlecht, Birmingham City, Metz
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2024)
Maxime Colin has provided right-back depth following his free transfer from Birmingham City, the French defender offering experience and crossing. The 34-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
Christophe Hérelle
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Nice, Brest, Metz
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2024)
Christophe Hérelle has provided centre-back depth following his free transfer from Brest, the French defender offering physicality and experience. The 33-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
Dorian Tormin
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Metz academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Dorian Tormin has provided left-back depth following his graduation from Metz’s academy. The 21-year-old’s contract runs through 2029.
Sadibou Sané
Nationality: French (Senegalese descent)
Former Clubs: Metz academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Sadibou Sané has been named among the substitutes in 2025/26, the 19-year-old defender representing the future of Metz’s defensive depth. Sané’s contract runs through 2030.
Midfielders
Kévin N’Doram
Nationality: French (Chadian descent)
Former Clubs: Monaco, AS Nancy (loan), Metz
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2023)
Kévin N’Doram has become Metz’s midfield anchor, the French-Chadian midfielder providing tackling, interceptions, and tactical discipline across three seasons at the club. The 29-year-old’s tackling (3.3 per 90) and interceptions (2.6 per 90) lead Metz’s midfield. His work rate (11.7 kilometres per match) and pressing intensity (11.4 pressures per 90) set Le Mignan’s standards. N’Doram’s contract runs through 2028.
Danley Jean-Jacques
Nationality: Haitian (French-born)
Former Clubs: Metz academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Danley Jean-Jacques has become Metz’s midfield engine, the Haitian international providing energy, ball-carrying, and tactical intelligence following his graduation from the club’s academy. The 25-year-old’s ball-carrying (3.9 progressive carries per 90) and work rate provide midfield security. Jean-Jacques’s contract runs through 2029.
Arthur Atta
Nationality: French (Cameroonian descent)
Former Clubs: CSKA Sofia, Metz
Transfer Fee: €2 million (2025)
Arthur Atta’s summer 2025 arrival from CSKA Sofia added French-Cameroonian physicality, energy, and midfield depth to Metz’s squad. The 23-year-old’s tackling (2.9 per 90) and work rate provide functional depth. Atta’s contract runs through 2029.
Lamine Camara
Nationality: Senegalese (French-born)
Former Clubs: Metz academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Lamine Camara has emerged as a promising midfield rotation option following his graduation from Metz’s academy, the 21-year-old Senegalese providing energy, passing, and tactical discipline. Camara’s contract runs through 2029.
Ablie Jallow
Nationality: Gambian (French-born)
Former Clubs: Metz academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Ablie Jallow has provided wide and attacking midfield depth following his graduation from Metz’s academy, the 27-year-old Gambian winger offering pace, dribbling, and creativity. Jallow’s finishing (4 goals in 2025/26) and dribbling (3.3 successful take-ons per 90) provide functional depth. Jallow’s contract runs through 2028.
Oussmane Kebe
Nationality: French (Malien descent)
Former Clubs: Metz academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Oussmane Kebe has been named among the substitutes in 2025/26, the 20-year-old midfielder representing the future of Metz’s midfield depth. Kebe’s contract runs through 2030.
Forwards
Pape Diallo
Nationality: Senegalese (French-born)
Former Clubs: Metz academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Pape Diallo has become Metz’s primary attacking weapon, the Senegalese forward providing finishing, pace, and movement following his graduation from the club’s academy. The 24-year-old’s finishing (13 goals in 2025/26) and conversion rate (26%) provide consistent scoring threat. Diallo’s movement off the shoulder (3.2 shots per 90, 0.56 xG per shot) terrorises defences. His work rate pressing centre-backs (10.7 pressures per 90) sets Metz’s defensive tone from the front. Diallo’s contract runs through 2029.
Simon Elisor
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Istres, AC Ajaccio, FC Sète 34 (loan), FC Villefranche Beaujolais (loan), RFC Seraing, Stade Lavallois (loan), ESTAC Troyes (loan), FC Metz
Transfer Fees: Free transfer to Ajaccio (2019), free transfer to Seraing (2022), €400,000 to Metz (July 2023), free transfer to Famalicão (January 2025)
A left-footed centre-forward standing 186 cm tall, Simon Elisor is a physically capable striker known for his intelligent movement off the ball and ability to play long passes, though he has shown mixed effectiveness in aerial duels depending on the statistical source. Born in Périgueux in 1999, he comes from a football family—his father Éric Elisor was a professional midfielder in Ligue 2, and his sister Salomé plays for Olympique de Marseille in Division 1 Féminine. Elisor’s career trajectory has been marked by loan moves across France’s lower divisions, with his true breakout coming during the 2021-22 season at Villefranche in the Championnat National, where he scored 17 goals in 34 league appearances and earned Player of the Month honors for April 2022. He then joined Belgian club RFC Seraing on a four-year contract before returning to France on loan to Laval in January 2023, where he netted 8 goals in 21 Ligue 2 matches to help secure the club’s survival. That form earned him a €400,000 move to FC Metz in July 2023, but his Ligue 1 campaign was modest—1 goal in 14 appearances—leading to a loan to Troyes in the second half of the season where he scored 6 goals in 18 Ligue 2 matches. After returning to Metz for the
Ibrahima Niane is at Angers. Metz’s correct forward is:
Georges Mikautadze
Nationality: Georgian
Former Clubs: Lyon, Ajax (loan at FC Metz)
Transfer Fees: €16 million to Ajax (Aug 2023), €13 million to Metz (July 2024), €18.5 million to Lyon (July 2024)
A right-footed centre-forward standing 176 cm tall, Georges Mikautadze is a composed and technically adept finisher known for his intelligent movement inside the penalty area, powerful shot without a big backswing, and exceptional composure in 1v1 situations. He rose to prominence during the 2022-23 season with Metz when he became Ligue 2’s top scorer with 23 goals, earning Player of the Season honors and firing the club to promotion. After a brief and difficult spell at Ajax where he struggled for playing time, he returned to Metz on loan in January 2024 and rediscovered his lethal form, scoring 13 goals in 20 Ligue 1 matches. His prolific run continued internationally as he starred for Georgia at Euro 2024, finishing as one of the tournament’s joint top scorers. Despite a convoluted transfer window in July 2024 that saw him permanently return to Metz only to be sold to Lyon weeks later for €18.5 million, Mikautadze remains a dynamic and versatile attacking threat capable of playing as a single centre-forward or drifting in from the left wing, also offering value defensively through his pressing and ability to intercept square passes.
Cheikh Sabaly
Nationality: Senegalese (French-born)
Former Clubs: Metz academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Cheikh Sabaly has provided striker depth following his graduation from Metz’s academy, the 26-year-old Senegalese forward offering physicality and finishing. Sabaly’s finishing (5 goals in 2025/26) and hold-up play (72% success) provide functional depth. Sabaly’s contract runs through 2028.
William Mikelbrencis
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: AS Montbronn (youth), FC Metz, Hamburger SV
Transfer Fees: €700,000 from FC Metz to Hamburger SV (August 2022)
A right-footed defender standing 176 cm tall, William Mikelbrencis is a versatile full-back capable of playing on both flanks as well as in right midfield, born February 25, 2004 in Forbach, France . He joined the FC Metz academy in 2015 after beginning his youth career at local club AS Montbronn, and signed his first professional contract with Metz in April 2021 . Mikelbrencis made his Ligue 1 debut for Metz on January 9, 2022 against Strasbourg, starting at right-back in what was his first senior appearance for the club . Over his time with the Metz first team, he made 14 senior appearances and scored 1 goal, while also featuring 15 times for the reserve side in National. On August 31, 2022, he transferred to German 2. Bundesliga side Hamburger SV for a fee of €700,000, signing a four-year contract, with his market value at the time estimated at €2 million . Known for his energy and work rate, Mikelbrencis has been rated as an overlapping full-back whose strengths include key passing, blocking, tackling, and concentration, though he has been noted to struggle with holding onto the ball and aerial duels . His defensive awareness and penalty box positioning are considered key assets, as evidenced by his 40 clearances, and he has registered 4 assists from the right-back position while also being deployed as a right wing-back . He has represented France at the U20 level, earning 7 caps , and his playing style involves committing fouls often while showing flashes of promise in carrying the ball forward to initiate attacks .
Édouard Soumah-Abbad
Nationality: French (Senegalese descent)
Former Clubs: Metz academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Édouard Soumah-Abbad has provided wide depth following his graduation from Metz’s academy, the 23-year-old French-Senegalese winger offering pace and dribbling. Soumah-Abbad’s finishing (3 goals in 2025/26) provides functional depth. Soumah-Abbad’s contract runs through 2029.
Lamine Gueye
Nationality: French (Senegalese descent)
Former Clubs: Metz academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Lamine Gueye has provided emergency wide depth following his graduation from Metz’s academy. The 25-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
Conclusion
Metz’s 2025/26 squad represents the most resilient and hard-working group assembled since the club’s Coupe de la Ligue triumph in 1986, a testament to Stéphane Le Mignan’s pragmatic coaching, the recruitment team’s intelligence (Traoré, Candé, Atta), and the academy’s continued production (Diallo, Jean-Jacques, Udol, Camara). The defence, anchored by Ismaël Traoré’s Ivorian leadership and Fali Candé’s physicality, provides platform for Metz’s organised, defensively sound survival system. The midfield, dominated by Kévin N’Doram’s tackling and Danley Jean-Jacques’s Haitian energy, controls matches through pressing and disruption. The attack, headlined by Pape Diallo’s Senegalese finishing, carries sufficient goal threat to secure survival. Crucially, Metz has balanced immediate competitiveness with long-term planning; Diallo, Jean-Jacques, Candé, and Camara represent significant resale value while contributing immediately – continuing the club’s historic tradition of developing talent for profitable sale. The looming challenge involves maintaining Ligue 1 status without the financial resources of France’s traditional powers – and surviving the eventual departure of Diallo, who will attract significant interest.
