The 2025/2026 season Marseille Olympic should allow the Marseille club to reach a new milestone. After an encouraging first year under the orders of Roberto DeZerbiconcluded with a second place in the championship, the Marseille leaders had displayed high ambitions. The objective was clear, to permanently establish OM among the best French teams and return to the Champions League with a strengthened squad. The summer transfer window was also built with this logic in mind. Several experienced players and proven profiles came to strengthen a group considered still too fragile in certain sectors. But despite these significant investments, the results have never really followed over time.
OM quickly lost ground in the rankings and never managed to display sufficient consistency to fight sustainably with the best teams in the championship. Qualification for the Europa League today constitutes little consolation for a club which aimed much higher just a few months ago. This sporting disillusionment now leads to a new reset. A new sports director and a new coach are expected in order to open a new cycle. And in this context, the defensive project already appears to be one of the absolute priorities of the next transfer window.
A sector already considered a priority a year earlier
This observation, however, has a strong scent of déjà vu. During the previous summer transfer window, the Olympian management had already made defense its main focus of work. Despite the second place obtained during Roberto De Zerbi’s first season, the managers then believed that the Marseille rearguard still needed to be strengthened to allow the club to take a step forward. Several important recruits had thus landed in Marseille. Benjamin Pavardworld champion and winner of the Champions League with Bayern Munich, represented the most prestigious arrival. His experience at the very high level should make it possible to bring serenity and leadership to an often irregular defense. At the same time, Nayef Aguerd also came to strengthen the defensive sector. An essential Moroccan international, semi-finalist of the 2022 World Cup with his selection, he arrived with an important status and the image of a defender capable of immediately raising the level of the team.
Facundo Medinaalready highly referenced in Ligue 1 with Lens, completed this ambitious recruitment. His aggressiveness, his experience in the French championship and his ability to play in several defensive systems convinced the Olympian leaders. To these recruits was added the presence of Leonardo Balerdiwho over the seasons has become a member of the Marseille locker room. After two convincing exercises, the Argentinian finally seemed ready to fully assume the role of defensive boss. On paper, OM therefore seemed well equipped to correct the problems seen in previous seasons.
A much more brutal reality on the ground
But the truth on the ground quickly caught up with the Olympians. After a relatively interesting first few months, Marseille’s defensive dynamic gradually collapsed. The calendar year 2026 has notably turned into a nightmare for the Olympian rearguard. Match after match, OM increased individual errors, lack of concentration and difficulties in defensive transitions. The Marseille club conceded a very large number of goals, to the point of being among the most fragile defenses in the championship during this period. The difficulties are obviously not only linked to the defenders. The Marseille midfielder also suffered enormously during the season, regularly leaving the defense exposed.
Under the orders of Roberto De Zerbi then under those ofHabib Beythe team never managed to find a true collective balance. But several individuals also went through a particularly complicated season. Leonardo Balerdi, although expected as one of the leaders of the group, experienced great difficulties in certain important matches. Benjamin Pavard has never managed to find the expected level despite his immense experience. As for Facundo Medina, he alternated between good performances and much more worrying performances. At the same time, injuries have continually weakened the Marseille defense. Nayef Aguerd was regularly physically stopped while Conrad Jaden Egan-Riley also experienced several glitches which prevented any stability in the sector. As a result, the automatisms never took hold and OM ended the season with the same questions as a year before.
A new reconstruction which looks inevitable
Faced with this observation, Olympian leaders will still have to intervene massively during the next summer transfer window. And several departures already seem to be taking shape. After six seasons spent in Marseille, Leonardo Balerdi could leave the Marseille city. Long considered a player of the future then as a locker room executive, the Argentinian seems to be reaching the end of his adventure under the Olympian colors. The case of CJ Egan-Riley also raises questions after a complicated first season. Arriving last summer, the English defender never really managed to establish himself sustainably in the rotation.
Concerning Benjamin Pavard, his departure has already been confirmed. The French defender announced that he would return to Inter Milan at the end of his loan. An experience in Marseille which will remain a great disappointment given the expectations placed on him upon his arrival. In this context, OM will once again have to recruit massively from behind. But the economic situation of the club risks strongly limiting the possibilities of the future transfer window. The lack of qualification for the Champions League represents a considerable shortfall for Olympian finances. And without a coach or sporting director officially appointed at the moment, it still remains very difficult to identify the profiles who will be targeted in the coming weeks. One thing nevertheless seems certain, the Marseille defense will still be at the heart of all priorities this summer.
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