Before INEOS took ownership in 2019, OGC Nice was known for spending cautiously but effectively in the transfer market. For a time, their approach to finding value signings across Europe was seen as a model by many clubs in Ligue 1.
Naturally, INEOS`s arrival changed this. The club began spending heavily, bringing in players like Kasper Dolberg, Terem Moffi, Sofiane Diop, Jérémie Boga, and Calvin Stengs for significant fees. In INEOS`s first season, Nice`s transfer expenditure exceeded €50m, a sum previously unheard of for the club.
However, INEOS`s attention has since partly moved elsewhere. Last February, they became a shareholder in Manchester United. Due to UEFA`s multi-club ownership rules, which prevent simultaneous involvement when clubs compete in the same European competition (as Nice and Manchester United did in the Europa League last season), INEOS had to step back from direct involvement at Nice for the duration of that period. This situation could potentially arise again next season, depending on future European competition participation. Nice secured a spot in the Champions League qualifiers by finishing fourth in Ligue 1.
Regardless of the UEFA regulations, the club`s transfer strategy has evolved as INEOS`s primary focus is no longer solely on Nice. Speaking on Ici Azur, Nice CEO Fabrice Bocquet indicated that while the club is still capable of investing, large single transfer fees seem to be a thing of the past for now. Bocquet commented that figures between €10m and €15m for a player are likely too high, noting that the club`s total investment across all players last year was less than €18m.
He elaborated on the reasoning:
‘If you spend that kind of money on one player, you limit yourselves in terms of getting others. So you have to recruit smartly, but it is Nice’s DNA – we have often functioned like this and we have had good results.’ – Bocquet
Bocquet`s comments suggest a return to the club`s roots of strategic, cost-effective recruitment, a method that has historically proven successful for OGC Nice.
