AS Saint-Étienne has finalized the permanent transfer of forward Irvin Cardona, aged 27. The French player rejoined Saint-Étienne on loan for the latter part of the 2023/24 season. Earlier in the season, he had been on loan at Espanyol from his parent club Augsburg, but this spell was cut short during the winter transfer window, paving the way for his return to Les Verts.
During his loan period with Saint-Étienne, Cardona netted five goals in 15 Ligue 1 appearances. Despite his efforts, the club ultimately faced relegation back to Ligue 2. Nevertheless, Saint-Étienne has proceeded to make his move permanent by activating the buy option included in the initial agreement. The transfer fee is reported to be €2.5 million, and Cardona has committed to a contract with the club running until the summer of 2028. The experienced forward`s immediate goal will be to contribute significantly to Les Verts` push for promotion back to the top division in the upcoming season.
