Best of 2025-26: Best Signing
With the curtain having come down on the 2025/26 Ligue 1 McDonald's season, in a new series, the editorial staff picks their favorite moments of what was a thrilling season, starting with the best signing. Join George Boxall, Eric Devin and Luke Entwistle for a bumper review.
Florian Thauvin, RC Lens
Few arrivals generated as much intrigue as Florian Thauvin’s return to Ligue 1 McDonald's with RC Lens. While his reputation remained strong from his Marseille days, a difficult spell in Mexico and a low-profile revival at Udinese meant expectations were tempered. What followed, however, was a reminder of the qualities that once made him one of France’s most feared attacking players.
Lens entered the season searching for greater imagination in the final third after often looking blunt in front of goal the previous campaign under Will Still. Thauvin quickly provided the spark they had been missing. Operating from the right, he blended creativity, intensity and a devastating end product, regularly producing moments of quality while also leading the press and setting the standard for those around him. His tally of 11 goals and six assists only tells part of the story.
More significant has been the maturity he brings to a side competing at the top end of the table. Years spent across four countries have added layers to his game, transforming a gifted talent into a genuine leader. Whether driving attacks, demanding more from teammates or sacrificing himself defensively, Thauvin has been central to Lens’ success. In a campaign where Lens pushed PSG deep into the title race, no attacker in the division had a greater influence on his team’s fortunes. It is not a surprise, therefore, that the former Newcastle and Marseille man has become a fan favourite in the North of France - GB
Thauvin cooking this season 🧑🍳 pic.twitter.com/43Eu8PliH3
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) April 27, 2026
JOaquín Panichelli, rc STRASBOURG
While the big Argentine's season ended in disappointment, having suffered a serious knee injury during his first training camp with his national team, there's no doubting his signing was a masterstroke. Having arrived in Alsace after an impressive season on loan with Mirandés in the Spanish second division, he was something of a risk, having played only a handful of minutes with his parent club, Alavés, in the 2023/24 season.
He made his debut right away under Liam Rosenior, and impressed from the off with his workrate and movement, while immediately endearing himself to the club's fans with a late winner against derby rivals FC Metz on Matchday One. He continued to quietly impress until a flurry of seven goals in five matches in October raised his profile considerably, earning him a callup for his country. While a dry spell would follow, he saved one of his best performances for last, scoring a brace off the bench in a 3-2 win over Nantes in his final match before his injury.
His not being expected to return until 2027 is a blow for Racing, but after finishing the season with 16 goals in just 27 matches, he has definitively proved he belongs in the French top flight. - ED
PANICHELLI GIVES STRASBOURG THE WIN! 🇦🇷✅ pic.twitter.com/UBjagZEhv7
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 22, 2026
Afonso Moreira, Olympique Lyonnais
So many of the top performers in Ligue 1 McDonald’s this season have been new signings, from top scorer Esteban Lepaul to one of the players that ran him closest for the Golden Boot in Panichelli. Florian Thauvin, who earned a France recall, and Sang et Or teammate Mamadou Sangaré all have to be in the conversation. In fact, you could name just about any Lens player here.
But purely for value for money, I have gone for Afonso Moreira. Brought in for just €2M, his top-flight experience was highly limited. He was only brought in to be a squad player, it seemed, but Malick Fofana’s injury thrust Moreira into the spotlight. It resulted in a spectacular breakout campaign. In 37 appearances in all competitions, he registered 19 goal contributions. Those are excellent figures for a young player in his debut season in Ligue 1 McDonald’s. He set the standards in the Lyon attack and rightly earned big plaudits from Paulo Fonseca for doing so. OL’s €2M winger is probably now worth around 20 times that figure. Lyon have a knack for developing players, usually ones who emerge from their own academy. Moreira remains their success story - LE
