While the recruitment of Sélestat Alsace Handball seemed complete for the coming year, the Alsatian club has just achieved a nice unexpected coup. French international goalkeeper Romain Mathias has signed up for the 2026-2027 season with the SAHB, marking his big return to Alsace before making the big leap to HBC Nantes in 2027.
The relegation of Istres to the ProLigue shook up the market, offering Sélestat a golden opportunity to repatriate Romain Mathias. At 28 years old, the goalkeeper returns to a club where he shone between 2022 and 2024. Since then, the player trained at Saint-Raphaëla has reached an impressive milestone in Provence: becoming captain, he has made 621 saves (30% success rate) in two seasons, high-flying performances which have opened the doors to him. the French team (3 selections).
A one-year springboard before changing dimension
Incompatible with his new status as a neo-international, the descent of Istres pushed the goalkeeper to look for a way out to remain in the elite. Despite a contract that still ran for one year with the Provençal club, Sélestat and Istres quickly reached an agreement to release the player. This return to Alsace will, however, be short-lived: from the summer of 2027, Mathias will join HBC Nantes, quarter-finalist of the Champions League and vice-champion of France this season. A perfect transition to take on responsibilities in StarLigue before changing dimension.
For its part, with this unexpected signing, Sélestat certainly achieves one of the nicest moves of its transfer window and ensures a defensive base of international level to validate its continuation next season.
