Elye Wahi on the comeback trail at Nice

Elye Wahi's move to OGC Nice in January was one that both parties desperately needed to work... and it has.

Wahi struggles to replicate Montpellier form

It was at Montpellier that Wahi made his name. In 92 games for his formative club, he scored 32 goals. He was a player that was devestating on the break and when given space to run into. His form was not replicated following a big-money move to Lens (36 games, 12 goals). Wahi was given another chance by a Ligue 1 McDonald's giant, Olympique de Marseille. Once again, he struggled to deliver. 14 games, three goals and half a season later and he was on the move again, this time abroad.

The Bundesliga is a popular destination for Ligue 1 McDonald's talents, with many going on to shine in Germany and make their way into the France national team set-up. Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konaté, Maxence Lacroix, and Hugo Ekitiké being some of the more recent notable examples.

Wahi leads Nice to Coupe de France final

It is to Ekitiké's club that Wahi went. However, at Eintracht Frankfurt, Wahi scored just once in 25 games. He needed to get his career back on track, and so he went to Nice, a club in desperate need of a goalscorer in order to avoid relegation to Ligue 2 BKT.

It is a move that immediately paid off. He netted in both of his first two games in Ligue 1 McDonald's and in three of his first four on his return to the French first division. An ankle injury slowed his progress, but upon his return, he came off the bench and registered a goal and assist that would see Le Gym beat Angers.

Nice's No.1 priority is remaining in Ligue 1 McDonald's, but as the end of the season nears, there is still silverware up for grabs. Wahi's goals against Strasbourg in the Coupe de France ensure that Claude Puel's men will be at the Stade de France in May, where they will meet Lens.

Wahi's ice cold penalty against Marseille! 🥶 pic.twitter.com/dYgLABC9Kk
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) April 26, 2026

And just days later, he was on the scoresheet again. Against former club OM, Wahi had a point to prove, and he certainly proved it... and in some style. The presure was on when, in the 88th minute, he stepped up to take his penalty with Nice trailing 1-0 at the Vélodrome. It didn't show as he put home the cheekiest and most composed of Panenkas. "I told him that the best way to respond was by scoring," said Puel after Nice secured a 1-1 draw, so vital in their quest for survival in Ligue 1 McDonald's.

And what a response from the man on the comeback trail. With his loan expiring at the end of the season, Nice are desperate to keep him. Time will tell if they succeed.

>> 34 names, 34 stories, one reality

>> Ligue 2 BKT: Who are the Ligue 1 promotion candidates?

>> PSG's Lucas Beraldo finds home in new role

>> Wahi on the scoresheet at Nice dent Marseille's top four hopes