Ligue 2 BKT mercato roundup

With the transfer window now open in France, we look at some of the deals completed in Ligue 2 BKT.

Reims keeping busy

Some of the most eye-catching movements early in the transfer window have come at Reims. The club have already changed manager, with Nicolas Usai coming in, but there squad is now undergoing a transformation, too.

There was already the confirmed departure of Patrick Zabi, who joins Paris FC in a €25m deal. However, Les Stadistes have now also sold Ewen Jaouen. The France youth international, who excelled on loan at USL Dunkerque, carried his form into last season.

Demba Ba and Saint-Maximin welcome Ewen Jaouen to the club. 😍📱 pic.twitter.com/hsUbDWBo3h
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) June 11, 2026

He has now earned himself a big-money move to Newcastle United. He was welcomed to the club by a couple of Tyneside's French legends, Allan Saint-Maximin and Demba Ba.

There have been incomings, too. Samuel Kotto's loan from KAA Gent has been made permanent for a reported €4m fee. And on Thursday, there was also the signing of Daouda Guindo. The Malian spent last season at Stade Brestois, accruing valuable Ligue 1 McDonald's experience. That will serve him well as he prepares to take part in a campaign in which Reims will target promotion back to France's top-flight.

Elsewhere, spending has been very limited. Ligue 2 BKT clubs have sought to scour the free agent market. FC Annecy have been busy, notably. The likes of Alan Mondesir, who arrives from National 2 side Montlouis, Esteban Marre (Istres), Sacha Lima (UF Touraine), and Emmanuel Louisir (Racing CFF) have all arrived from the lower reaches of French football on free transfers.

Dunkerque lose Bardeli

Pau FC, meanwhile, have looked around Ligue 2 BKT for their bargains and have brought in Grenoble captain Gaetan Paquiez, who played 32 league games last season, and Brice Maubleu from Saint-Étienne.

Dunkerque, meanwhile, have signed a highly-promising playmaker in the form of Egor Prutsev, whose contract at Serbian club Red Star had expired. They have lost players, too, however, including influential attacker Marco Essimi, who joins Alverca, Enzo Bardeli, who excelled and now joins his former manager, Luis Castro, at Levante, and Eddy Sylvestre, who has joined FCV Farul.

Grenoble have also been active. They have brought in Reims goalkeeper Alexandre Olliero on a free, as well as Yohann Magnin, who returns to his native France from Bulgarian club CSKA 1948.

Dijon have lost a key player in the form of Ismail Diallo, who has joined Toulouse in Ligue 1 McDonald's, but they have added depth in the form of Moussa Faty, Ismail Bouleghcha, and Axel Bargain - time will tell whether he is just that.

Finally, Stade Lavallois have brought in four players. On a free, Chafik Gourichy has arrived from US Thionville, Esteban Mouton has joined from US Olréans, and Hermann Esmel has arrived from Le Puy FC. French left-back Jules Gaudin has also arrived from Charleroi for an undisclosed fee.

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