Ligue 2 Preview: The most compelling season in recent memory?
The 2026/27 Ligue 2 BKT season promises another fiercely competitive promotion race, with two recently relegated clubs joining several ambitious sides already pushing for a place in Ligue 1 McDonald’s. From historic names targeting an immediate return to intriguing new signings and potential surprise packages, here is what to watch this season.
The fight to reach Ligue 1 McDonald’s rarely lacks drama, but the collection of clubs involved this season makes the race particularly enticing. FC Nantes and FC Metz arrive following relegation from the top flight, while AS Saint-Étienne remain in Ligue 2 BKT after falling narrowly short last season. Stade de Reims, Montpellier Hérault SC, Red Star FC and Rodez AF will also harbour ambitions of joining the promotion battle.
Nantes are back in the second tier for the first time in 13 years and have turned towards experience in an attempt to ensure that their stay is brief. Maxime Dupé and Lucas Perrin have strengthened the squad, while Killian Corredor returns to France having previously prooved his worth at this level with Rodez.
Metz are another club accustomed to yo-yo-ing between France’s top two divisions. Les Grenats have recruited players familiar with the demands of French football, including Florian Miguel and Jean Ruiz, and produced several promising performances during pre-season. Saint-Étienne, are attempting to go one step further after finishing third and reaching the Ligue 1/Ligue 2 promotion play-off last season.
Saint-Étienne’s new generation
Few clubs have been busier than AS Saint-Étienne yjis summer. Under their new Scottish head coach Ian Cathro, Les Verts have continued a data-led recruitment model introduced by Kilmer Sports Ventures. Rather than relying solely on players with Ligue 2 experience, they have searched across several European development leagues.
Danish winger Jakob Breum has arrived from Go Ahead Eagles, while versatile attacker Thierno Ballo joins following an impressive spell in Austria with Wolfsberger AC. Aron Csongvai, Mamour Ndiaye and Sohaib Naïr have also been added to a young squad with significant room to develop.
It is an ambitious strategy, to say the least. Saint-Étienne will once again carry enormous expectations, but their recruitment suggests the club are building with more than one season in mind.
Their campaign begins with a meeting between two historic institutions of French football as they travel to face newly promoted FC Sochaux-Montbéliard at the Stade Auguste-Bonal.
Can last season’s outsiders go again?
Red Star and Rodez showed last season that a place near the top of Ligue 2 does not require one of the division’s largest budgets.
Red Star finished fourth before being eliminated by Rodez in the promotion play-offs. The Audoniens have continued to invest in young players, with defender Elyaz Zidane among their most eye-catching summer arrivals.
Their opening fixture could hardly be more intriguing. Damien Perrinelle's side travel to the Stade de la Beaujoire to face Nantes, providing an immediate test of whether they can reproduce last season’s achievements.
Rodez ultimately finished fifth before overcoming Red Star and taking Saint-Étienne to a dramatic penalty shootout at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Didier Santini’s team have consistently shown an ability to compete against clubs with greater resources and should not be underestimated again.
Stade de Reims are another side to follow closely. Les Champenois finished sixth last season but have since been among Ligue 2’s biggest investors. Samuel Junior Kotto, Tom Hülsmann and Youssef El Kachati have all arrived as part of a significant rebuild.
Familiar faces in unexpected places
The summer transfer window has brought several established names into Ligue 2 BKT. Former Arsenal and Villarreal midfielder Francis Coquelin has joined Stade Lavallois, bringing extensive experience from the Premier League, La Liga and European competition.
USL Dunkerque have made two particularly eye-catching additions in midfield. World Cup winner Steven Nzonzi and former AS Monaco and Leicester City player Nampalys Mendy have both joined the northern club.
Their experience will be combined with younger talent, including Paris Saint-Germain attacker Khalil Ayari, as Dunkerque attempt to move back towards the upper reaches of the table.
Montpellier have also added an experienced Ligue 2 performer in Florian Tardieu. The midfielder previously helped Saint-Étienne win promotion in 2024 and will be expected to provide some much-needed leadership at the Stade de la Mosson.
Historic clubs return
Three years after financial difficulties threatened the club’s existence, Sochaux are back in Ligue 2 BKT. Les Lionceaux secured promotion alongside Dijon FCO and will now attempt to re-establish themselves in the professional game. Both these clubs add some further depth to an already compelling division in terms of supporters and club history.
Sochaux’s return begins against Saint-Étienne, while Dijon travel to Montpellier on the opening weekend. The format leaves little room for a slow start.
The top two sides will earn automatic promotion, while the clubs finishing between third and fifth must negotiate the play-offs before facing the 16th-placed Ligue 1 team.
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