Legends
Loan Perspectives: Boosting Strikers' Confidence!
For forwards, going on loan often seems like a crucial step in their development. Looking at those who spent time on loan early in their careers before making it big, it’s clear the experience can be very beneficial.
Loan spells benefited players like Sonny Anderson, M'Baye Niang, André-Pierre Gignac, Moussa Sow, Loïc Rémy, Olivier Giroud, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
More recently, players like Randal Kolo Muani and Folarin Balogun have followed this path. Balogun, in particular, is a standout success story. The American international striker really made a name for himself under Oscar Garcia and then Will Still at Stade de Reims.
How did Balogun end up at Reims?
Balogun made a remarkable impact during his loan at Stade de Reims in the 2022-23 season, scoring 21 goals—the highest ever for a loaned player in a single season. This success opened doors for him internationally, as he chose to represent the United States over England. For Balogun, this second loan was nothing short of a "dream scenario," but it came with careful planning.
At just 21 years old, Balogun approached this loan with a clear mindset, ready to make sacrifices: "I wanted to step out of my comfort zone. I wanted to learn French and make new friends. Coming here alone really forced me to adapt. All of this was well thought out."
Before making his decision, Balogun took the time to research his options from various clubs in France, England, and Germany. "I watched how other teams in the league played and how Reims liked to play. I realized Ligue 1 would be perfect for me. I know my strengths, and I was confident I could succeed here, especially since I noticed there were a lot of quick transitions."
But it wasn't just about that. "Reims told me I'd need to prove I deserved my spot. If I did, I'd definitely play. Some clubs just tell you what you want to hear to get you to sign, but that wasn't the case here. I knew that if I came to Reims and showed my skills in training—something I was sure I could do—I would get my chance in matches."
Despite being young and relatively unknown, Balogun exceeded the goal set at the beginning of the season by his friend Nicolas Pépé (ten goals) and made a strong impression. As Thierry Henry, who spotted him at Arsenal, said, he found at Reims "the opportunity to show himself." Henry predicted, "Things can really take off for him."
Bafé Gomis, who scored 20 goals during his loan season from Swansea in 2016-17, also made the most of his situation to join his dream club, Olympique Marseille, for a season.
"I made it clear to my management that I only wanted to go to Marseille. Other English clubs and some more exotic ones were interested, but I always vetoed those. When things weren’t progressing, I made a compromise. I wanted to prove that it wasn’t just about money—I really wanted to go home and take on that challenge."
Sony Anderson: Six Months of Madness
How did Olympique Marseille discover one of the greatest loan signings in the history of French football?
In the 1993-94 season, Anderson scored 16 goals in 20 matches in France’s top flight, making him the third-highest-scoring loan player ever but arguably the most effective. Benfica and Borussia Dortmund sought to recruit him to challenge Bayern Munich's Elber, but playing for the reigning European champions alongside top players ultimately convinced him to join Marseille.
"It's pretty simple: I played a friendly match against OM in Geneva and had a great game. After that, there were talks about a loan because OM couldn’t sign me outright. We agreed that Servette would pay part of my salary since OM couldn't cover the entire amount. The deal was that I would be loaned for six months, and I needed to give it my all to secure a big transfer the following summer. I couldn’t say no to OM. I left in November to replace Alen Bokšić. Since I made a good impression, Bernard Tapie trusted me with a six-month loan."
"I felt right at home in the Vieux Port, scoring 16 goals in 20 matches. At that time, I was still Sonny Anderson, not yet Sonnygol, and unknown back in my country. Looking back, I realize how crucial my decision to join OM was: 'Marseille was where I started in France. It allowed me to achieve what I later did at Monaco and Lyon because it all began with Marseille. It was the turning point of my career.'"
"At the end of the Marseille season, I helped the team secure second place, but unfortunately, the club got relegated. 'I would have stayed if the club had remained in Ligue 1,' I mentioned in 2020 to Le Phocéen. In the end, Monaco took advantage of the talent I showed to succeed Klinsmann. I also revealed that PSG had contacted me, but they only offered a one-year loan. For someone like me, a loan couldn’t realistically last more than six months."
Valère Germain: Leaving to Come Back Stronger
For many scorers, as with other positions, competition can drive the decision to leave a club. This was the case for Valère Germain. A lifelong Monégasque at the time, the striker chose to temporarily depart for neighboring Nice, where he would return and become a key player.
During the 2014-15 season, Germain faced increased competition at Monaco, which reduced his playing time and the arrival of Kylian Mbappé in the summer of 2015 added to this challenge.
"I saw players coming in and was still viewed as the young kid from the academy, even though I was 25," Germain recalled. "I needed to be seen differently, and for that, I had to go elsewhere. I had a hard time leaving, but I knew it was the right choice." That season, Germain had his most productive year in Ligue 1, scoring 14 goals.
Though he didn’t initially plan to leave Nice after one season, AS Monaco and coach Leonardo Jardim managed to convince him to return. "It’s a feeling of revenge. I want to have a full season like I did under Ranieri's era," he said.
Upon his return after a successful season, Germain’s wishes were realized. He displayed an impressive work ethic, boasting the lowest body fat percentage in the squad when training resumed in June 2016. This commitment helped him regain a prominent role in Monaco's attack, where he scored ten goals in the league during the title-winning 2016-17 season. He even wore the captain's armband several times and often formed a striking partnership with Mbappé or Radamel Falcao.
Top Scorers Among Players on Loan in Ligue 1 McDonald's (who left at the end of their loan):
- Folarin Balogun (Stade de Reims, 2022-23): 21 goals
- Bafétimbi Gomis (Olympique de Marseille, 2016-17): 20 goals
- Sonny Anderson (Olympique de Marseille, 1993-94): 16 goals
- Anthony Modeste (SC Bastia, 2012-13): 15 goals
- Valère Germain (OGC Nice, 2015-16): 14 goals
- Moïse Kean (Paris Saint-Germain, 2020-21): 13 goals
- Arnaud Kalimuendo (Racing Club de Lens, 2021-22): 12 goals
- Kaba Diawara (OGC Nice, 2002-03): 12 goals
- Bruno Rodriguez (RC Lens, 2000-01): 12 goals
- Leonardo Rodriguez (Toulon, 1991-92): 12 goals
- Lucas Barrios (Montpellier Hérault Sport Club, 2014-15): 11 goals
- Fernando Morientes (AS Monaco, 2003-04): 10 goals
- Pegguy Luyindula (AJ Auxerre, 2005-06): 10 goals
- Carlos Eduardo (OGC Nice, 2014-15): 10 goals
- Amara Simba (AS Cannes, 1990-91): 10 goals
- Eric Cantona (Montpellier Hérault Sport Club, 1989-90): 10 goals
- Islam Slimani (AS Monaco, 2019-20): 9 goals
- Wahbi Khazri (Stade Rennais FC, 2017-18): 9 goals
- Modibo Maïga (FC Metz, 2014-15): 9 goals
- Majeed Waris (Valenciennes FC, 2013-14): 9 goals
- Wason Renteria (RC Strasbourg Alsace, 2007-08): 9 goals
- David Gigliotti (ES Troyes AC, 2006-07): 9 goals
- Patrice Loko (FC Lorient, 1998-99): 9 goals
- Xavier Gravelaine (RC Strasbourg Alsace, 1994-95): 9 goals
- Abedi Pelé (LOSC Lille, 1989-90): 9 goals
- Cheick Diabaté (FC Metz, 2016-17): 8 goals
- Gianni Bruno (SC Bastia, 2013-14): 8 goals
- Nelson Oliveira (Stade Rennais FC, 2013-14): 8 goals
- Djibril Cissé (Olympique de Marseille, 2006-07): 8 goals
Goal Scorers Seeking Experience: Randal Kolo Muani’s Game-Changing Loan
Kolo Muani might have made his first professional appearance with FC Nantes back in the 2018-19 season, but it was his loan to Boulogne-sur-Mer that really kickstarted his career. Discovered by FC Nantes in 2015 while playing in the Paris region, he was described as “one of those players you don’t come across every day.”
Despite showing promise with the reserve team, he found it tough to break into the first team. His breakthrough came while playing in the Championnat National under former Nantes players Laurent Guyot and Aurélien Capoue. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing—he picked up two red cards in his first eight matches. But after that rough start, he really turned things around.
When he returned to FC Nantes, the club wasn’t ready to commit to him yet and considered sending him out on loan to Boulogne again, this time with an option to buy. Other Ligue 2 BKT teams were interested, too. In the end, his coaches Pierre Aristouy and Samuel Fenillat convinced the management to give him a chance in the first team under Christian Gourcuff. At 22, Kolo Muani became the team’s top offensive weapon, finishing his first season with nine goals and 37 appearances in Ligue 1.
His success was undoubtedly built during his time in Boulogne. Guyot, his coach back then, remarked, “We’re one of the teams that have to deliver results, and we look for young players with exceptional potential. He was definitely one of them. Opponents quickly realized they’d have to foul him to stop him.”
This experience toughened up a player who sometimes showed a bit of nonchalance. Sylvain Ripoll, who selected him for the U21s after his return to Nantes in October 2020, agreed: “I think he came back from Boulogne with a lot more skills and arguments in his favor. It was a smart career move.”
Kolo Muani isn’t the only striker who’s polished their skills in the Championnat National. Gignac did so at 20 with Pau FC during the 2005-06 season, Giroud had a breakout year at Istres the following season (scoring 14 goals), and Emiliano Sala made a name for himself at Orléans in 2012-13 with 18 goals. Pépé also honed his craft in Loiret three seasons later, while Gaëtan Laborde scored 14 goals for Red Star in 2013-14, and Denis Bouanga had a strong showing at Strasbourg in 2015-16.
APG: A Springboard Loan in the National
Before finding success with the national team or winning the title of top scorer in Ligue 1 McDonald's, Gignac spent some time on loan at the Championnat National. He scored eight goals in 20 matches, and he described the positive impact this decision had on his career: "This transitional season completely relaunched my career. Thanks to Pau, I regained playing time and confidence. The National is a breeding ground for talent. For me, it was a springboard."
On the mental side, he admitted that he "thought he was Ronaldo" after scoring just 30 seconds into his Ligue 2 debut. "I believed I could make a difference all on my own. The coach put me in my place by taking me out of the group."
Once considered "clumsy" by Gourcuff in Ligue 2, Gignac returned to make a splash in Ligue 1 under the Breton tactician. Even though he was fourth in the pecking order among Lorient's strikers, he seized the opportunity when Fabrice Fiorèse was injured and Steve Marlet was out of form, showcasing his talent with a memorable hat trick against Nantes in his first game in the top flight.
Aubameyang: The Early Years and His Journey Through Loans
Aubameyang's journey began with a series of loans starting at age 19, moving through Dijon, Lille, Monaco, and finally Saint-Étienne, all while being owned by AC Milan. It was a long and tough learning process for someone who just finished a season with 30 goals in all competitions at OM after achieving top-scorer titles in both the Bundesliga and the Premier League.
“Early in my career, everyone said I was just a sprinter… You try your best, but even within your own club, people say you’re not good enough to play football,” Aubameyang reflected recently. Those loans, however, helped shape him as a player. At Dijon FCO, he started his professional career as a regular in Ligue 2 BKT. His time at LOSC was valuable, as he got a taste of Ligue 1 McDonald's and the UEFA Europa League. During his time in northern France, he also played on the right wing, “which really expanded my game.” Still, he didn’t manage to convince the Lille club, which chose not to activate the purchase option in his loan deal.
Moving from AC Milan to Dijon might seem like a surprising career move, even for a young player mostly playing with the Milan reserves. “At that point in my career, when you look at the Milan team, if you’re realistic, you know it’s tough to get playing time. So for me, it was clear. I asked to leave because the club wanted me to stay for another season and train with the pros.” So, he left Italy, where he rubbed shoulders with players like Clarence Seedorf, Ronaldo, and Kaka, “without any regrets.” In fact, he felt he gained “a lot of time, found rhythm, and built confidence.”
His success led him to take a shot with LOSC. There, he sometimes felt reduced to just his speed, and coach Rudi Garcia stopped using him in March. “It was his first steps in Ligue 1. He was 20 years old. You could see he was going to become a very good player—maybe not the player he is today, but it’s because of his hard work,” recalled the former Lille coach. Garcia also mentioned the reasons for this mixed experience: “We played in structured attacks, with not much space, and he played a lot in the Europa League. Plus, that was the team that would go on to be champions the following season. With Gervinho, Hazard, De Melo, and Frau, he had tough competition ahead of him.”
The same story unfolded at Monaco. Initially, Aubameyang was used by Guy Lacombe, but when Laurent Banide took over, he fell out of favor and left the club at the end of the winter transfer window. “In training, I could see he had all the makings of a good striker,” Lacombe shared in 20 Minutes. “Physically, he had incredible potential with his relentless runs and great stamina.”
At 21, for the first time in his career, he became a starter in Ligue 1, forming an attacking trio with Park Chu-Young and Frédéric Bulot. Under Banide, ASM ended his loan on January 31. “After two months, I told my management that we needed to activate the purchase option,” Lacombe recalled. “In matches, he struggled. Technically, he missed a few things. But in training, he was spot on. His touch was good, but in Ligue 1, he had too much space or was too withdrawn.”
“It’s all about managing emotions and building confidence. Because he definitely had the talent,” the former Monaco coach remembered. Aubameyang learned this during his fourth and final loan at ASSE. Not during those first challenging months but over time. After eleven average months, ASSE under Christophe Galtier signed him permanently.
“I changed my mindset, and when I arrived at Saint-Étienne, I was thrilled because Christophe Galtier gave me the confidence I needed, and that changed everything in my career. That’s when I started scoring goals,” Aubameyang recalled. In fact, he scored his first hat-trick just three weeks after signing with Les Verts.
Loïc Rémy: A Surprise Despite Relegation
Rémy is one of those international forwards who carved out a niche for himself through a loan. His journey shows how intentions and desires can shift over time. Originally, he left "to come back stronger to Lyon," but in the end, he never returned to his youth club.
While learning the ropes at Olympique Lyonnais, Rémy quickly made an impact during his short spell at RC Lens (just six months). Right from his first match, he scored and quickly gained confidence, helping him cope with leaving his family behind.
Beyond his statistics (three goals in ten matches), Rémy showcased his speed and dribbling skills, even as his club faced relegation at the end of the season. This performance allowed him to establish himself with the Under-21s, leading to a transfer to OGC Nice the following summer.
Niang: A Final Shot on Loan?
Mamadou Niang, who became Ligue 1's top scorer in 2010 with OM, also needed a loan to fully shine. Under Jean Fernandez at FC Metz in Ligue 2, the Senegalese forward gained confidence and developed his game. Before he turned 23, his career was struggling to take off.
During his five-month partnership with fellow striker Emmanuel Adebayor, Niang played a key role in helping Metz secure promotion in the 2002-03 season. "Without him, we wouldn’t have gone up," then-Metz manager Jean Fernandez noted. But by season's end, Metz couldn’t keep him due to rising competition, marking a turning point for the striker.
Meanwhile, Alain Perrin and ESTAC no longer wanted him, and after a previous dismissal from the HAC training center, he found himself in demand. Following a solid stint at Strasbourg, Niang reached new heights at OM, once again thanks to his mentor Fernandez, whom he joined in the summer of 2005. "I insisted so much to have him. The management eventually agreed."
Another Senegalese top scorer in Ligue 1, Moussa Sow, saw his career change thanks to a loan. The top scorer for LOSC in 2010, Sow was used to shining in the reserves or getting brief appearances with Stade Rennais over three seasons. At just 19, he opted for a move to Ligue 2, where he found a home at Sedan. There, the former U19 European champion in 2005 gained valuable playing time and started scoring.
His coach, José Pasqualetti, focused on improving his finishing, which had been lacking at SRFC. While his 10 goals didn’t entirely convince his boyhood club, the winds shifted for Sow, now blowing in the right direction. He took advantage of Briand’s injury and Wiltord’s departure to seize his opportunity and show he had grown during his time at Sedan.
Falcao: A Comeback After Tough Loans
On the flip side, some top attackers discover the loan system later in their careers. Radamel Falcao is a prime example. Just a year after joining AS Monaco, he expressed his desire to go on loan to Manchester United. Although that and a subsequent loan to Chelsea in the 2015-16 season didn’t work out, they paved the way for "El Tigre" to return to Monaco, where he helped secure the Ligue 1 McDonald's title in 2016-17 as captain.
The striker underwent a transformation during this time. "When a club like Monaco makes such a big investment in me, they expect a return," he said upon returning to the Principality. Four years after his arrival, he achieved one of the biggest comebacks in history.
Djibril Cissé: Injured Yet Still Secured on Loan
Cissé also experienced a loan, and it came under unusual circumstances after joining OM from Liverpool. This wasn't due to his first serious injury with the French national team in June 2006. "At the Reds, Rafael Benitez had other plans for his squad, and I ended up on the transfer market. I quickly stated that the only team I would consider signing for was Marseille. Pape loved the idea, and so did José Anigo," Cissé explained about his move.
However, it turned into a loan for the 25-year-old French international, who had suffered a double tibia-fibula fracture just days before his arrival was made official. Despite this setback, President Pape Diouf kept his word, and the loan went through. During the 2006-07 season, which only began for him in December after his rehabilitation, the Arles native fulfilled his dream of wearing Jean-Pierre Papin's No. 9 jersey, all thanks to Diouf.
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