ChristopheVAFC

Tomorrow sees a behind-closed-doors friendly between our two clubs at Southampton's training centre. According to the latest information, there will be 2 matches of 60 minutes each, with 2 different teams. There will be no live video feed, no real-time score information, and the clubs will publish information after the match, nothing else... It's a shame, but if it helps our two clubs to have a good season afterwards...

I know a bit about Julien Dufurier, the journalist who specialises in our team here for our local media outlet ‘La Voix du Nord’, and it's often his press articles that I share with you here. I agree with what he had to say, which sums up the situation of our club since the takeover by Sport Republic. I hope our 3 clubs have a great season in any case!

Frankly, our team has what it takes to have a great season, and we have an experienced coach who can make a difference too!

Honestly, it's a really good job that's been done by the sports coordinator Mathieu Frison, with the support of our CEO Yoann Godin since the end of the season. We have nothing to reproach the club for, which we feel has made some very good choices, now the hardest thing will be for this new team to get on well on the pitch, and if that works, I have no doubt that we'll have a great season!

It's Samir Belloumou finaly ! https://www.va-fc.com/articles/29185

A new recruit will be announced in a few hours by VAFC. 🥳 I'm thinking of two potential players: 🫣 - Sandro Tremoulet (central defender) - Samir Beloumou (defensive midfielder) I think the player will be presented on the pitch at Southampton's training centre. 😅 https://x.com/VAFC/status/1945436415862386970?t=eQ0YzDCZn5Nf46EyXIqyWg&s=19

I don't have any information on this subject because my club is very discreet about the team's current training camp. I imagine they want the players to be in their own bubble. I hope the camp goes well for them in any case!

Hello friends, I hope you're well? Latest news from my team who arrived safely in Southampton last night for the 5-day course! I think you're likely to come across them if they're out and about in the city, I'm thinking of the Bargate and WestQuai areas! Take care of my players, my friends! Have a great day! --> https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1606238/article/2025-07-14/vafc-encore-en-observation-valenciennes-en-stage-en-angleterre-la-classe

Congratulations on your victory today, my friends!

Win 1-0 today in Valenciennes Training Center ! Valenciennes win their first match (1-0), Mamadou Kebbeh on target Valenciennes beat Quevilly-Rouen 1-0 in their first warm-up match. Mamadou Kebbeh scored the only goal of the game in the first half. VA made a successful comeback. As expected, Stéphane Moulin fielded two separate teams in the first and second halves, with many new faces showing a fairly positive side, especially in the first half. Mamadou Kebbeh scored the only goal of the game from a corner. Lucas Buades also had a penalty saved by the Normandy goalkeeper in the first half. VAFC - Quevilly-Rouen: 1-0 (1-0) Goal: Kebbeh (25th) VAFC (1st MT) : Louchet, A. Diomande, Kebebh, Thomas (cap), Koum; Moursou; Rouai, K. Diomande; Buades, Oyewusi, Ipiele VAFC (2nd MT) : Lacombe; Coeff, Tremoulet, Niakate, Wahib, Collet, Sissoko; Baghdadi; Appuah, Courtet, Kouakou.

Thank you very much my friend, have a great season and all the Southampton supporters on the site. 🥰

Hello friends, I hope you're well? Today is the 1st pre-season match for Valenciennes, who take on Quevilly Rouen at the VAFC training centre. After this match, on Sunday, the Valenciennes players will head to Southampton for a 5-day training camp at the Staplewood Campus from 13 to 18 July 2023, culminating in a friendly match against your team behind closed doors and also not broadcast on television. Press Review today: https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1605787/article/2025-07-12/vafc-voir-le-caractere-de-chacun-premiere-sortie-pour-le-valenciennes-de

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