There is a reason why Ligue 1 is dubbed the ‘Ligue des Talents’ (League of Talents). Take a seat in front of one of its matches and chances are you will be surprised by what you discover.
Beautiful atmospheres, intensity, creative tacticians, but above all players… of talent. Examples of players who have graced the pitches are plentiful.
Indeed, it’s no coincidence that the world’s biggest clubs are so keen to recruit ‘made in France’ talent. Or at least players who have played in its elite competition.
Once again, the 2025-26 crop should not disappoint. Between young gems and intriguing recruits, Sports Talk United invites you to discover 10 players to follow this season in Ligue 1. And a word of advice: remember their names.
You may well be hearing about them again very soon.
Khalis Merah
Olympique Lyonnais
- Age: 18
- Position: Central midfielder
Do you know what Rayan Cherki, Anthony Martial, Karim Benzema, Raymond Domenech and Alexandre Lacazette have in common? They all came through the Olympique Lyonnais academy.
A prestigious list to which the name of Khalis Merah could soon be added.
Although he wasn’t necessarily expected to make his Ligue 1 debut so quickly, the 18-year-old midfielder could well find himself immersed in the competition from the start of the season. A fate undreamt of at the dawn of summer. But Merah has seized the opportunity given to him by Paulo Fonseca.
At least, that’s what his six consecutive starts, including one against Bayern Munich, during OL’s pre-season suggest.
With technical skills and body language on a par with those of Houssem Aouar, another product of Lyon’s youth academy, the Meyzieu native will certainly have a role to play in a squad looking to make an impact on several fronts.
A welcome surprise for the Rhône-based club, which, after narrowly avoiding relegation to Ligue 2, can now approach the 2025-26 season with a light heart.
Ansu Fati
AS Monaco
- Age: 22
- Position: Forward
There have been ‘new Zidanes’ and ‘future Ronaldos’. For his part, Ansu Fati was once seen as Lionel Messi’s “heir”.
A status that was as rewarding as it was burdensome for a player who, in 2019-20, dazzled European football alongside his illustrious captain. But time has passed and, unfortunately, the Spanish forward has never been able to live up to expectations.
This is largely due to a series of physical setbacks, some more serious than others, which have slowed down or even halted his progress. Since that breakthrough season, Fati has not been the same. His rare appearances for Barça have been unsatisfactory, while his loan spell at Brighton also proved disappointing.
Yet everyone knows what the two-time Spanish champion is capable of. You don’t lose such talent overnight.
And that’s why AS Monaco decided to take a chance on him this summer. On the Rocher, in an environment much less pressured than what he has experienced previously, the 22-year-old hopes to regain his form. He certainly has the qualities. Let’s just hope that his body will finally allow him to express them.
Joaquin Panichelli
Strasbourg
- Age: 22
- Position: Striker
Of the 18 Ligue 1 clubs, Strasbourg have certainly been one of the most active during this transfer window. And one of the least economical. Having already spent over €100 million, the Alsatian club, which enjoys a special relationship with Chelsea, has sought to give itself the means to think bigger.
A desire embodied in particular by Joaquin Panichelli, who became the second most expensive signing in RCSA history after the club offered Alaves a cheque for €16.5 million (plus €3.5 million in bonuses) to secure the services of their Argentine giant.
A hefty sum for a player whose experience in La Liga remains relatively minimal (eight appearances), but who rocketed up the rankings in the Spanish second tier last season. At Mirandés, where he was loaned out after returning from a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury, Panichelli not only rediscovered his form on the pitch, but also his scoring touch. With 21 goals and eight assists in 42 LaLiga2 matches, the River Plate-trained striker has finally come into his own.
It’s now up to him to prove that he’s ready to take the next step.
Samson Baidoo
RC Lens
- Age: 21
- Position: Center-back
For a young player, joining the Red Bull galaxy is — in most cases — synonymous with having the doors opened to a path that has already been mapped out.
Samson Baidoo is no exception.
Signed by Red Bull Salzburg at the age of 14, the young defender continued his development at FC Liefering, also owned by the Austrian colossus, in the second division. And when he was ready to join the first team, Baidoo settled in for the long haul.
So much so that at just 21 years of age, the Graz native already has more than 70 appearances for the Salzburg club under his belt, including 16 in the Champions League. Recruited by Lens for €8 million, Baidoo intends to continue his rise to prominence.
At a club that, in the space of six months, has had to cope with the departures of Kevin Danso, Facundo Medina and Abdukodir Khusanov, the 1.90m rock will have the space to assert himself. A mission that his new coach Pierre Sage, whose reputation with young players is well established, will inevitably help him to accomplish.
Igor Paixao
Olympique de Marseille
- Age: 25
- Position: Left winger
Franck Ribéry may have only spent two seasons in Marseille, but he left a lasting impression on everyone. So when Igor Paixao said during his press conference that he had some of the ‘same characteristics’ as the man he considers his ‘role model’, it’s a safe bet that the Brazilian touched the hearts of many fans.
But actions speak louder than words, and as the most expensive signing in the club’s history (€35 million), the 25-year-old will inevitably be under scrutiny.
However, this is not likely to dampen his enthusiasm and eagerness to take to the pitch at the Stade Velodrome and get the crowds cheering. It must be said that if he performs as well as he did last season (18 goals and 19 assists with Feyenoord), Paixao has a good chance of succeeding.
Otavio Ataide
Paris FC
- Age: 23
- Position: Center-back
It has been a difficult season for FC Porto.
The club finished third in the league for the second consecutive year, recorded its highest number of defeats (seven) in nine years and exited the Europa League in the knockout stage play-offs. On the bench, no fewer than three coaches took turns trying to salvage what they could.
But there were also some bright spots. These include players such as Samu Aghehowa, who scored 27 goals in 45 matches, and Rodrigo Mora, who stood out for his youth and talent.
As for Otavio, his reputation is a little more mixed. While no one doubts his qualities (speed, power, fighting spirit), his inconsistency and minor disciplinary issues have certainly led the Porto club to consider the possibility of letting him go.
A golden opportunity for Paris FC, the ambitious Ligue 1 newcomers who, backed by the financial power of their shareholder, the Arnault family, broke the bank to secure his services. At the heart of a project that puts him in the spotlight, Otavio no longer has a choice.
The time has come for him to prove himself.
Ousmane Camara
Angers SCO
- Age: 22
- Position: Center-back
It’s a safe bet that a year ago, never would Ousmane Camara have imagined himself on a list of players to watch in Ligue 1. Undesirable last summer and sent to the reserves in April 2024, it took an unexpected alignment of the stars for the imposing French centre-back to make his comeback for Angers‘ first team during an away game at FC Nantes last May.
An unlikely opportunity, due to the spate of absences Alexandre Dujeux had to deal with, which Camara seized to perfection. Not only did the 1.97m player finish the season as a starter, but he also convinced his coach to keep his confidence in him during the summer preparation matches.
A promising sign at the start of a season that could finally allow him to show the full extent of his talent. The right reward after having “struggled a lot”, as he himself admitted.
Santiago Hidalgo
Toulouse FC
- Age: 20
- Position: Forward
Toulouse can hardly be said to have used their summer preparations to build confidence. Defeated in five of their seven pre-season matches, Les Violets suffered heavy defeats against RB Leipzig (7-0) and VfB Stuttgart (6-0). Equally worrying is their inability to find the back of the net, having scored only three times.
However, it is in one of their goals, or rather in the person of one of its scorers, that Toulouse can find a glimmer of satisfaction.
After all, Santiago Hidalgo quickly won over the Stadium crowd. Scorer of the equaliser against Sevilla FC, the Argentine striker helped his new team start August on a positive note. A successful introduction to his new fans for the player who arrived from Independiente. At only 20 years old and discovering Europe for the first time, however, patience will be required.
But Toulouse knows that. The data does not lie.
Lucas Chevalier
PSG
- Age: 23
- Position: Goalkeeper
Everyone knew PSG were interested in Lucas Chevalier ; nobody expected him to arrive in the French capital so quickly, though. And especially not in this way. But his transfer from LOSC ultimately reflects the start of his career: meteoric.
At just 23 years of age, the man who is already France’s number two goalkeeper enjoys a more than flattering reputation. Named best goalkeeper in Ligue 1 at the UNFP Awards last May, he recently had the honour of seeing his name associated with the Yashin Trophy, which will be awarded in September during the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
In Paris, however, Chevalier will have the daunting task of succeeding Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was pushed out due to contractual disagreements, which was crucial in winning the club’s first Champions League title in its history. This adds extra pressure on a player who nevertheless seems impervious to it, sure of his qualities and aware of his flaws.
Confidence, but never arrogance, such is the winning formula of Luis Enrique’s new last bastion.
Louis Leroux
FC Nantes
- Age: 19
- Position: Central midfielder
Several young players from the 2005-06 generation earned playing time with FC Nantes last season. Louis Leroux was one of them.
After making his debut in early August, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder had to wait until the following February to make his first start with Les Canaris. He celebrated with a goal in front of his home crowd at La Beaujoire.
Leroux may not be the flamboyant type of player who gets the crowd on their feet, but he is the kind of player every team wants to have in their squad. Versatile, skilful and with a high work rate, he has established himself as one of the revelations of the season for Nantes.
From revelation to confirmation, there is only one step. Perhaps the most difficult one, admittedly, but a challenge that Leroux will certainly be keen to take on. And above all, to do so with distinction.
