Olympique Marseille signs Egan-Riley: risk or the next star?

Olympique Marseille signs Egan-Riley: risk or the next star?

With a breath of fresh air into the coming season: CJ Egan-Riley, a 22-year-old defender from England, is moving to Olympique Marseille (OM) on a free transfer. The player, who was trained in Manchester City's youth ranks and most recently played for Burnley in the Championship, will join the Phocaeans after his contract with the “Clarets” expires. This was officially confirmed by RMC Sport, which also mentions that the contract is for a period of four years. Egan-Riley is the OM's second summer signing, after Angel Gomes, for whom a contract in principle has already been announced.

The decision for this transfer was made in close consultation between Egan-Riley and Roberto De Zerbi, the coach of Marseille, who sees great potential in the young, talented defender. De Zerbi believes that Egan-Riley, who is largely unknown in France, can fit well into his playing system. However, there are some concerns as many Championship players are struggling to make an impact in Ligue 1. One should remember failed transfers like those of Iliman N’Diaye or Jonathan Rowe.

The challenge of the Vélodrome

The coming months will be crucial for Egan-Riley. A high level of competition awaits him in Ligue 1, which differs significantly from the Championship. To thrive in this new environment, he will not only have to get used to the style of play but also to the demands of the Vélodrome stadium. The high level of competition within the squad and the pressure of playing in one of France's most famous stadiums will be both a challenge and an opportunity.

During his stint at Burnley, Egan-Riley was able to gain his first international experience with the England U21 national team. The team is currently taking part in the European Championships, where England emerged victorious in their first game against the Czech Republic. The player Jonathan Rowe, also from Marseille, was able to score a goal. Various clubs such as West Ham, Crystal Palace, AC Milan and Porto had expressed interest in Egan-Riley, but Marseille officials decided to sign the young defender.

Ligue 1 balance sheet

Ligue 1 is very much in focus for the 2024/2025 season. With a total market value of 3.72 billion euros, the league offers a colorful mix of top-class players and emerging talents. Olympique Marseille itself has positioned itself with a market value of 261.25 million euros and an average squad age of 27.1 years. The team, which now relies on the reinforcement of Egan-Riley, wants to maintain its place among the top teams in the league.

• FC Paris Saint-Germain: 1,06 Milliarden Euro Marktwert
• AS Monaco: 397,20 Millionen Euro Marktwert
• LOSC Lille: 322,65 Millionen Euro Marktwert
• Olympique Marseille: 261,25 Millionen Euro Marktwert
• RC Straßburg Alsace: 218,90 Millionen Euro Marktwert

Marseille fans can only hope that Egan-Riley can keep his promises. Above all, he will be measured by whether he fills the gaps left by other players in the recent past. It remains exciting to see how this new signing will develop and whether he can master the challenges of Ligue 1.

For further details on the transfer and developments at Olympique Marseille, you can read the reporting from Livefoot and RMC Sport track. The current developments in Ligue 1 are also up Transfer market to read.