Ligue 2 BKT Season Preview: The Promotion candidates
The new Ligue 2 BKT season is already shaping up to be one of the most open in recent years. With big names looking to bounce back, and several contenders building smartly, here's a look at five sides who could be fighting for promotion to Ligue 1 McDonald's next season.
AS Saint-Étienne: Bouncing back again?
After a turbulent return to the top flight, AS Saint-Étienne are once again rebuilding in Ligue 2. Having guided Les Verts to promotion in 2024, manager Olivier Dall’Oglio was replaced midway through last season by Eirik Horneland – a bold appointment who brought attacking flair but couldn’t prevent the club’s drop back down. After the optimism and ambition of the attacking style that Horneland brought to Stade Geoffrey Guichard - Les Verts were up against it by the final months of the season.
Now ASSE are back in Ligue 2, the instant task in front of Horneland is to oversee an instant bounce back to Ligue 1 - and like for many French clubs, time is of the essence. It was a blow to see Mathis Amougou depart for Chelsea midway through last season, but the midfield has been restocked with Israel international Mahmoud Jaber. At the back the signing of Chico Lamba from FC Arouca will look to complement a solid Ligue 2 pairing already with Mickaël Nadé and Dylan Batubinsika. Former loanee Irvin Cardona signed permanently from Augsburg and will look to be the talisman of a rebuilt side next season - after all, they had achieved promotion before.
However, star pair Zuriko Davitashvili and Lucas Stassin's futures are increasingly looking away from Les Stéphanois next season. With the pair's departure, Saint-Étienne's front line looks slightly bare compared to Reims and Montpellier. But have no qualms, Les Verts will be fighting at the top end of Ligue 2 BKT if they can produce the same football under Horneland with less strenuous competition, and what seems an open promotion battle next season.
Reims: new hope under Karel Geraerts?
Reims’ final weeks in Ligue 1 McDonald's were a rollercoaster. A Coupe de France final appearance ended in defeat, and so did their promotion play-off against Metz. Now back in Ligue 2 BKT, the club have turned to Karel Geraerts – formerly of Union Saint-Gilloise and Schalke – to lead a rapid rebuild.
Departures for Japanese pair Keito Nakamura and Junya Ito are more than on the cards, but Reims have recruited well this summer. Dunkerque's star 19 year-old goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen has joined along with FC Nantes veteran Nicolas Pallois to strengthen the backline. Experience has also been added to midfield with Ligue 2 veteran (and free-kick specialist) Yohan Demoncy joining from a revenant stint at Annecy. Teddy Teuma is also a hugely experienced midfielder who reunites with his former Union Saint-Gilloise boss and has already thrived at this level with Red Star in the past. Up front, the youthful Ivory Coast international Oumar Diakité will be joined by the experienced Jordan Siebatcheu.
Add to that the youth of Ange Martial Tia (18), Mamadou Diakhon (19), and Ireland international John Patrick (21), Reims have some serious potential to dominate the second division this season. 
EA Guingamp: Steady progress to be rewarded?
Ligue 2 BKT is a tough league to thrive in. Whilst not making the same kind of noise in the transfer market as some of their rivals, they've quietly pieced together a squad that could well challenge at the top of the table this season.
Progress has been steady for Guingamp since their relegation to Ligue 2 in 2018-2019 under Jocelyn Gourvennec. It will be L'En-Avant's seventh consecutive season in France's second division but there is a feeling now that the slow and steady progress made since former France U21 manager Sylvain Ripoll's appointment is finally building to something. After falling to Dunkerque (1-0) during the first round of the promotion play-offs last season, Les Rouge et Noir will be hoping to go a few steps further this season.
EAG are already working off a solid base. The likes of Rayan Ghrieb (26), Amine Hemia (27) and Alpha Sissoko (28) were pivotal in last season's play-off push, and will have an even bigger role to play this season after the departure of Hugo Picard (22) to the MLS and frontman Brighton Labeau (29) to the Swiss Super League.
The Breton side have far from been fully raided though this summer, and they have also managed to reinforce the frontline with the signing of the experienced Louis Mafouta (31) - a surefire Ligue 2 striking option. He'll partner up with the exciting Jacques Siwe (24) who'll be looking to push on from his 13 goals in all competitions last season. If Rippoll's side can keep up their steady progress this season, a return to Ligue 1 McDonald's may no longer feel too out of reach.
Montpellier: stopping the downward spiral
Montpellier’s relegation came with drama – both on and off the pitch. From their bottom-place finish to awkward viral moments featuring star man Téji Savanier, last season was one to forget. Now, under Zoumana Camara, the club is pressing reset.
The squad has been streamlined, with a new focus on youth and energy. PSG loanee Naoufel El Hannach, Montpellier academy graduate Axel Guéguin, and returning winger Nathanaël Mbuku will be key to that transition. Victor Orakpo (19, on loan from Nice) and Alexandre Mendy (30, ex-Caen) provide striking options, while experienced campaigners Julien Laporte and Mathieu Michel reinforce the defence.
But at a club where chaos and resignation reigned last season, turning around the downward trajectory won't be an easy task for Zoumana Camara in his first full season as a senior club coach.
