It was inevitable that numerous Ligue 1 stars would be among the key protagonists of the transfer window this summer.
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The French top flight has become a hotbed for young talent, with some of the brightest young talent in the world game currently plying their trade in L’Hexagone.
However, the current financial realities of football mean that beyond Paris Saint-Germain, the top sides in France can no longer keep hold of their best players.
This has made Ligue 1—and even the division’s heavyweights—something of a breeding ground for the talent that will furnish the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A.
In this feature, we present the eight biggest departures from the French top flight this summer.
Geoffrey Kondogbia
Geoffrey Kondogbia became the most expensive Ligue 1 departure of the summer so far when he left AS Monaco for £26.4 million, signing for Roberto Mancini’s Inter Milan.
The powerhouse is only 22 and represents something of an ideal alternative for Yaya Toure—another rumoured target for the Nerazzurri.
Kondogbia looks set to become an elite performer and one or two Premier League sides may rue having missed out on the France international.
Yoann Gourcuff
Playmaker Yoann Gourcuff has left Olympique Lyonnais after coming to the end of his contract at the Stade Gerland.
The 28-year-old has been linked with a return to Girondins de Bordeaux—the club where he perhaps enjoyed his most successful stint—although one or two foreign sides may also be interested in the talented, but troubled, international.
Napoli have been linked with a move for the former AC Milan man, who may not refuse the chance to have a second stab at Serie A.
Andre Ayew
Despite interest from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and AS Roma, Andre Ayew made something of a surprising choice by signing for Premier League Swansea City.
The Ghana international had previously indicated that he was open to a move to one of the Premier League’s top ten and a club that could offer him an appealing project, rather than a Champions League contender.
Having managed 10 goals and three assists in 28 Ligue 1 starts last term, Ayew represents a marvellous coup for the Swans.
Lucas Barrios
Having only been on loan with Montpellier last term, it comes as little surprise that Lucas Barrios will be taking his precious striking talents elsewhere this summer.
The Paraguay hitman might have opted to move permanently to MHSC, or to another Ligue 1 side, but has ultimately ended up with Brazilian giants Palmeiras.
The 30-year-old managed 11 goals in 31 appearances for Rolland Courbis’s side last term, and represents a loss for Montpellier.
Andre-Pierre Gignac
Despite being linked to the Premier League this summer, with the likes of West Ham United and Everton linked to his signature, Andre-Pierre Gignac ultimately opted for a surprise switch to Mexican football.
With his contract at Olympique de Marseille coming to an end, the striker completed a free transfer to Tigres, joining Villarreal hitman Ikechukwu Uche in the Liga MX Apertura.
The switch may well signal the end of the forward’s international career, while it remains to be seen if a Premier League opportunity will ever come again.
Simon Kjaer
Despite being linked with a move to Liverpool this summer, Danish international Simon Kjaer ultimately opted to swap LOSC Lille for Fenerbahce earlier this month.
Kjaer, who previously featured for the likes of Palermo, Wolfsburg and Roma, would have been a valuable asset for the Reds, particularly with doubts lingering over Martin Skrtel’s future.
Franck Tabanou
Franck Tabanou is another Ligue 1 star who swapped France for South Wales this summer, when he completed a £3 million switch to Swansea City.
The Frenchman—who has signed a three-year move to the Liberty Stadium—is a versatile operator who can operate up and down the left flank.
He was a key figure at previous club AS Saint-Etienne, although injury concerns reduced his participation last term.
Alphonse Areola
Alphonse Areola—who had previously been a transfer target for Arsenal—remains the future of Paris Saint-Germain, even if he appears no closer to usurping Salvatore Sirigu as the club’s No. 1.
Having spent last year on loan at SC Bastia, he had been linked with a temporary switch to another Ligue 1 outfit with Nantes and Bordeaux reportedly interested in the France U21 stopper.
Instead, however, the keeper has moved on loan to Villarreal, meaning that the French top flight has lost another of its finest stoppers—temporarily at least.