26/27 Preview #17: Toulouse FC
Last season
Toulouse once again established themselves comfortably in the middle of the Ligue 1 McDonald’s table last season, finishing 10th and securing a fourth consecutive campaign in the top flight.
It brought an end to a significant chapter in the club’s recent history. Carles Martínez Novell, initially an assistant when Toulouse lifted the Coupe de France in 2023, departed after three seasons as head coach. The Spaniard helped consolidate the club following promotion and oversaw a memorable European campaign, but the TéFéCé decided the time had come for a new cycle.
The foundations he leaves behind remain strong. Toulouse continue to possess one of the youngest squads in the division, with the club’s academy increasingly complementing the recruitment model which has underpinned their recent stability.
A Scandinavian influence
Jens Berthel Askou arrives after an impressive season with Motherwell, whom he guided to fourth place in the Scottish Premiership and qualification for Europe. The Dane now faces the challenge of transferring that success to Ligue 1 McDonald’s.
His appointment has been followed by another characteristically youthful transfer window. Ismaïl Diallo and Christ Tapé have strengthened the defence, while Swedish winger Sion Oppong has arrived from Brommapojkarna. Toulouse have also moved late in the window to bring in highly-rated German centre-back David Odogu on loan from AC Milan and Danish midfielder Thomas Jørgensen from Viborg.
Jørgensen may be particularly intriguing. The 20-year-old recorded five goals and nine assists in Denmark last season and arrives having already been involved with his country’s senior national-team set-up.
There have been significant departures, too. Emersonn left for Ipswich Town after scoring seven goals in his only season in France, while Charlie Cresswell joined Stade Rennais after establishing himself as an important part of the Toulouse defence over the previous two campaigns.
Askou therefore inherits a team with plenty of familiar faces but enough changes to make the opening months of the season particularly important. Guillaume Restes, Aron Dønnum, Cristian Cásseres Jr and Yann Gboho provide continuity, while Toulouse will once again hope that their younger players can make another step forward.
Player to watch: Alexis Vossah
Alexis Vossah’s emergence was one of the most encouraging features of last season. The midfielder made 25 senior appearances during his breakthrough campaign, scored his first professional goal and established himself in the first-team rotation while still only 17.
Toulouse rewarded that progress with a new contract until 2030 this summer. Now 18, Vossah should have the opportunity to become an increasingly important figure in Askou’s midfield and could be the next Pitchoun to establish himself as one of Ligue 1 McDonald’s most exciting young talents.
The verdict
Toulouse have made finishing comfortably in mid-table look increasingly routine since returning to Ligue 1 McDonald’s, but their ambitions are gradually shifting. The question is whether Askou can retain that stability while adding enough to push Les Violets towards the European places.
Losing Cresswell and Emersonn removes two established performers, and another young recruitment drive inevitably brings uncertainty. There is nevertheless plenty to like about the squad Toulouse have assembled. If their latest prospects develop quickly and the transition to Askou is smooth, another top-half finish should be well within reach.
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