Herba Guirassy: Nantes’ record-breaking winger announces himself in style

Herba Guirassy’s name may only just be beginning to circulate beyond La Beaujoire, but within FC Nantes, his potential has long been recognised. On Wednesday night, the young winger provided the clearest sign yet of what he can offer.

Despite a 5–3 defeat to AS Monaco, Guirassy was the standout performer for the Canaris, scoring twice (19’, 45+6’) in a thrilling, high-scoring encounter at the Stade de la Beaujoire. Those goals didn’t just mark his first brace in Ligue 1 McDonald's, they also etched his name into the club’s history books. A ccording to Opta he is now the youngest player ever to score a double for Nantes in the top flight, at 19 years and 61 days.

From Angers to La Jonelière

Born in Angers, Guirassy took his first steps in football with local sides in the Maine-et-Loire region, where his raw pace and ability to beat defenders quickly stood out. His performances at youth level soon caught the attention of Nantes scouts, and he joined the FCN academy as a teenager — a move that placed him inside one of France’s most respected development environments.

At La Jonelière, Guirassy refined his game. Coaches describe him as a driven and intelligent learner, equally attentive to tactical detail as he is to individual flair. That work ethic saw him climb steadily through the youth ranks, starring for Nantes’ U17 and U19 sides before making the leap to the professional setup in 2024.

“Herba has the primary quality of a top-level attacking player, namely audacity and spontaneity. He doesn’t hide and goes forward; not everyone is capable of that, especially at 18,” explained Matthieu Bideau, Nantes’ long-time head of youth recruitment, who first brought him to the club.

Former youth coach Stéphane Ziani also recalled his early impressions. “He has a tendency to get himself tangled up. With his slight and rangy frame, he can occasionally look a little leggy,” he said with a smile — adding that the winger’s unpredictability could become one of his greatest strengths.

A regular for France’s U-19 national team, Guirassy has impressed at international level too, where his blend of direct running, balance, and final-third instinct have drawn comparisons to players like Kingsley Coman in his early years.

Breaking through under Luis Castro

Guirassy has profited off Luís Castro's willingness to trust youth this season with Les Canaris. So far this season, he has two goals and one assist in Ligue 1 McDonald's which are a high output for relatively little game time. He has already matched his scoring output last season in one game for Nantes this season, as he hopes to kick-on to become a regular fixture in Castro's lineup for the rest of the season. 

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