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Racing Remade: Rounding up a busy mercato in Alsace

It's already been a busy summer for RC Strasbourg -- catch up on all the ins and outs for the Alsatians!
E. DEVIN
Published on 07/16/2025 at 23:00
3-minute read
It's already been a busy summer for RC Strasbourg -- catch up on all the ins and outs for the Alsatians!

 It's already been a busy summer for RC Strasbourg -- catch up on all the ins and outs for the Alsatians as Liam Rosenior and his young side prepare for the 2025/26 Ligue 1 McDonald's season!

New faces...

There's no doubting that Rosenior will be looking to restructure his side, having lost several key elements from the squad that finished in seventh place last season, earning a UEFA Europa Conference League spot. Midfielder Andrey Santos and goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, two of the key players in the team's second-half resurgence, have returned to parent club Chelsea, while teenage defender Mamadou Sarr has also made the journey to Stamford Bridge, departing on a permanent deal. In addition to this trio, captain and academy product Habib Diarra has also upped sticks to England, joining newly-promoted Sunderland FC. 

While a new goalkeeper to replace Petrovic has yet to arrive, Racing have moved aggressively to reinforce their midfield and defence, adding Mathis Amougou, Maxi Oyedele and Pape Demba Diop in the former and Soumaïla Coulibaly in the latter. Born in England to Nigerian and Polish parents, Oyedele is already a full Polish international, and his hard-running style will be a great fit for Rosenior's high-octane style. Diop is younger and more raw, having arrived from second-tier Belgian side Zulte Waregem, but with two key departures, there should be plenty of opportunity for each of them. 

As for Coulibaly, he will return to Ligue 1 after spending last year on loan from Dortmund with Stade Brestois. A product of the Paris Saint-Germain academy, he has earned a dozen caps for France at youth level and will be eager to move on from an injury-hit campaign in Brittany. Last but not least is another Frenchman, Amougou. Still just 19, he has impressed at every turn since breaking through with Saint-Étienne. Having moved to Chelsea in January, he now returns to Ligue 1 on a permanent deal.

And old!

While that quartet surely has fans of the club excited, the Meinau crowd will also be happy to have some familiar faces back in the fold. After a sterling second half of the season on loan with Le Havre, Junior Mwanga is back with Racing and will be eager to stake his claim for a regular place in midfield, while defender Saïdou Sow returns from a loan to Nantes. It will be some time before the Guinean will be back to full fitness, but he's sure to add important depth to the team as they prepare to fight on two fronts.

Last but not least, Racing have exercised purchase options on each of Valentín Barco, Samuel Amo-Ameyaw and Andrew Omobamidele. Barco, a do-it-all Argentine, is capable of playing anywhere on the left flank, as well as in midfield, and his versatility will be vital for the club. Amo-Ameyaw, late of Southampton, is a raw talent, but the young Englishman showed plenty of promise, scoring twice in limited minutes in the run-in. Finally, Omobamidele is a tough defender -- an experienced international with Ireland, he'll add know-how and experience to the back line.

Read more:

>> Mercato: Le Havre get busy!

>> Preseason friendlies: Ligue 1 is back