ChristopheVAFC

Pre-season programme for your U21 team and under -18: https://x.com/rees_julian/status/1943707484461412545/photo/1

Hello friends, I hope you're all well! Today, a new recruit for Valenciennes (11 in total!) https://www.va-fc.com/articles/29093

Hello friends, I hope you're well! News from outside VAFC: today, the town of Valenciennes hosts the 3rd stage of the Tour de France 2025. https://www.letour.fr/en/stage-3 If any of you like cycling or want to see some pictures of my town, don't hesitate to watch the TV today. Have a nice day!

The start of the game was in England's favour with a goal that should have been validated (the VAR made a mistake for me), but France woke up around the 30-minute mark and scored 2 goals, sometimes with a bit of success it's true. I imagine the English players will want to play a better second half. Enjoy the game!

I hope you enjoy the match, my friends. May the best win! Women Euro 2025 🇲🇫🤝🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Jules COLLET A young player from our academy, he has been at Valenciennes for six years now—a promising talent in my opinion. Gaetan COURTET A seasoned 36-year-old striker who has spent his entire career in France (Stade de Reims, Stade Brestois, AJ Auxerre, FC Lorient, AC Ajaccio, EA Guingamp and USL Dunkerque). He averages about 10 goals per season. Mabrouck ROUAI He’s coming off a solid season with Aubagne (3 goals and 5 assists). A dribbler-type profile and quite tricky to mark. Julien LACOMBE A young goalkeeper from Toulouse FC, he will be our number 2 behind Jean Louchet. In my view, he’s got potential for the future. Alain IPIELE A 27-year-old left winger who joins us from Martigues (Ligue 2). Not much information, but it seems he made a good impression last season. Daou Kader DIOMANDE This player comes from Paris 13, a team we faced last year. A good pick-up in my opinion. Derrick ABU A young player from Southampton’s U21s. I’ve read many comments from Saints fans who say Derrick is a very interesting player who could bring a lot to our side. Alexi KOUM On loan from Olympique de Marseille. I don’t know him that well, but I do know he’s here to get game time and will give his all for the shirt. Abdelwahed WAHIB A left-back who will compete with Alexi KOUM, also a left-back. I don’t know him either, but he’ll have to earn his spot. Streddair APPUAH Already on loan with us from January 2025. He had a strong half-season and chose to come back despite having other offers. Romain THOMAS A natural centre-back who knows our coach (Stéphane MOULIN) very well, having played under him at Stade Malherbe Caen. I believe he’ll give his all on the pitch.

Another new recruit officially announced today! (and it's not over yet!) https://www.va-fc.com/articles/29024

Don't worry, my friend, I'd love to! On the list of arrivals at Valenciennes, I like our new striker, Gatean COURTET, an experienced player with a warrior's mentality, and here, we like warriors! As for the others, I'm very happy too. Mathieu Frison, Ben Chorley's replacement, is using a completely different strategy to build the team. That appeals to a lot of supporters here, and at the moment we're optimistic for next season. Of course, the most important thing will be the pitch and the sporting results!

Update: Streddair APPUAH returns to Valenciennes on season-long loan ! https://www.va-fc.com/articles/29001

Dear friends, I told you that the off-season was going to be hectic for Valenciennes with a team that is going to change a lot and I'm giving you an update below on the current movements at the club, and I'm told that it's not over yet, a few more arrivals are expected here at VA. Departures from the club: - (Goalkeeper) Mathieu MICHEL / End of contract -> Montpellier HSC (Ligue 2) - (Goalkeeper) Pape CAMARA / End of contract -> Free - (Left-back) Byani MPATA Lama / End of contract -> Free - (Central defender) Ousmane TOURE / End of loan -> LOSC Lille (Ligue 1) - (Midfielder) Axel CAMBLAN / End of loan -> Stade Brestois (Ligue 1) - (Central defender) Bakaye DIBASSY / End of contract -> Free - (Central defender) Lucas WOUDENBERG / End of contract -> Free - (Forward) Nick VENEMA / Termination of contract -> FC Dordrecht (Division 2 - Netherlands) - (Forward) Carneji ANTOINE / Termination of contract -> Free - (Defensive midfielder) Julien MASSON / End of contract -> FC Sochaux (National) - (Attacking midfielder) Aymen BOUTOUTAOU / End of contract -> FC Sochaux (National) - (Attacking midfielder) Kylian GASNIER / End of loan -> Pau FC (Ligue 2) - (Front centre) Yacine HAOUARI / Entente Feignies Aulnoye (National 2) - (Right-back) Tanguy LIENARD / Entente Feignies Aulnoye (National 2) - (Central defender) Philippe NDINGA OSSIBADJOUO / End of contract -> Free - (Central midfield) Daouda TRAORE / End of loan -> Southampton FC Arrivals at the club: - (Defensive midfielder) Jules COLLET / Signature contrat professionnel - (Forward) Gaetan COURTET / USL Dunkerque (Ligue 2) - (Defensive midfielder) Mabrouck ROUAI / Aubagne FC (National) - (Goalkeeper) Julien LACOMBE / Toulouse FC (Ligue 1) - (Left winger) Alain IPIELE / Martigues (Ligue 2) - (Attacking midfielder) Daou Kader DIOMANDE / Paris 13 Atletico (National) - (Right-back) Derrick ABU / Southampton FC U21 - (Left-back) Alexi KOUM / Olympique de Marseille (Ligue 1) - (Left-back) Abdelwahed WAHIB / Le Havre (Ligue 1) - (Right-Winger) Streddair APPUAH / new loan to Valenciennes for all season - (Central defender) Romain THOMAS / Stade Malherbe de Caen (National) Current departure rumours: - (Left-back) Souleymane BASSE / several offers? - (Forward) Matthias OYEWUZI / Turkey ?

The reason for recruiting the 2 left-backs is that the only one left, Souleymane Basse, is highly sought-after and is likely to leave this summer, as Valenciennes have been offered a number of attractive financial packages. The press article below explains it better than I can: https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1602412/article/2025-07-02/va-anticipe-un-possible-depart-de-souleymane-basse-et-enrole-deux-arrieres

https://www.va-fc.com/articles/alexi-koum-prêté-au-vafc-!-28992

Two new recruits join Valenciennes today ! https://www.va-fc.com/articles/28998

me too !

Derrick Abu signs for VAFC! Valenciennes have signed a promising young Englishman. Derrick Abu, a former England U17 international, signed a two-season contract (plus one option) with VAFC on Tuesday 1 July. The 21-year-old right-back joins from VA's partner club Southampton, where he played for the U21s. Trained at Chelsea, Derrick also played for Crystal Palace's youth team, not forgetting a spell at Harrogate Town in 2023/2024 (League Two). This highly attacking full-back has crossed the Channel to bring all his qualities to VAFC. Welcome to VA Derrick! Derrick Abu, new recruit at VAFC. "I'm delighted to be here, where the project suits me perfectly. I grew up playing for Chelsea and then I joined Southampton. Now I'm in France, I'm getting out of my comfort zone and playing abroad. I want to excel at this club so that we can reach new heights. I have an attacking profile but I like to help the team in all areas. I defend well and I can play in several positions. Mathieu Frison, VAFC sports coordinator. "We're delighted to welcome Derrick. He comes from a comprehensive training programme in England. He's an attacking right-back with very interesting athletic and technical qualities. We're going to be patient with this lad so that he can adapt and express his qualities within our team.

Happy to share, my friend! So, I know that the squad is going to change a lot and that there's going to be a lot of movement because a lot of players disappointed SR and the staff last year, few players really gave satisfaction and I think that with the arrival of the new coach, anything can happen, and everyone can potentially leave. As for the goalkeeper, after Mathieu Michel's departure for Montpellier, we've got Jean Louchet back after he was injured last season, and he's back in the number 1 position. The defence will be a major area for recruitment after the departure of Lucas Woudenberg, Bakaye Dibassy (end of contract), Ousmane Touré (end of loan), Jordan Poha (probably not retained) and Byani Mpata Lama, who announced his departure from the club last night. In midfield, we've also lost a few players, including Julien Masson, who has gone to Sochaux, and Aymen Boutoutaou, who is expected to leave for the same place, as well as Daouda Traoré, who is arriving after his loan spell with us. Axel Camblan is returning to Brest, so we'll need to recruit a few players in those positions. In attack, we've recruited Gaetan Courtet, an experienced player who has spent his entire career in France. He's not young any more and I think we'll also need to recruit other players to help score goals, as we risk losing other players, like Matthias Oyewuzi, who has leads in Turkey, and players like Nick Venema and Carneji Antoine, who won't be retained.

Normally, Southampton's B team will come here to Valenciennes to face Valenciennes' B team. I don't have the exact date yet, but I'll do what I can to be there and give you some information.

Hello friends, I hope you're well and that you're coping with the current heat across Europe. Tomorrow is the resumption of training for VA, so I'm sharing with you below a press article with the latest information from the club: VAFC : une grosse vingtaine de joueurs attendus sur le pré, mardi, pour la reprise - La Voix du Nord I wish you all a wonderful evening.

It's really good that Dragan has spoken out about the situation of the group and the club, to reassure everyone for the coming months and years. I can see that Dragan really loves Southampton and he wants the situation to stabilise and improve in all areas. Dragan is aware that not everything has been perfect and that mistakes have been made in the past and he hopes that these recent choices will pay off so that everyone is satisfied. I also think that Dragan has understood that he needs to be more vigilant about the decisions he makes and the money he invests. I sincerely hope that Dragan's future choices for Southampton will also benefit Goztepe and Valenciennes. It's good that he's given this interview to give some news and announce things for the future. Especially after the season you've just had, my friends, and I hope that next year will be more positive for you.

If anyone has the full article, I'd love to read it! Thanks in advance!

When SR joined us in the summer of 2023, they made it clear that they were in it for the medium-long term and that he wouldn't be leaving overnight. And recently, the owner (I'm thinking of Dragan), would have said that he was getting impatient and that he wanted results soon. That's why we're going through a lot of changes at the moment, and I think it'll be the same for you this year. I really don't think that SR is going to leave any time soon, from any of the 3 clubs, I think it's still early days for them.

Dear friend. I am very pleased that you have nominated me for the Correspondent's Award. I really enjoy reading you every day and I can see that there are a lot of nice members among you all. I nominate you all in the best supporters category for your loyalty to your club following the season that has just ended. My friend, I wish you a speedy recovery, come back to us in good shape! COYS !!

Above all, I think that SR wants to do well in football, but unfortunately, they're making one bad choice after another and disappointing people.

I think Ben will have more success here, because he was born in your country, played in your country and got his first taste of scouting here too. Here in France, he has never managed to adapt to football and the way it works.

VAFC will spend several days training at Southampton's facilities, and Stéphane Moulin's team will face the English side, relegated to the Championship and now coached by former RC Lens coach Will Still, behind closed doors on 18 June. Southampton - VAFC, 18 July (Training centre, behind closed doors.)