Rodez Aveyron Football completed a major attacking overhaul on transfer deadline day, confirming the departure of Ibrahima Baldé and the signing of Kélian Nsona. The Aveyron club announced both moves on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, as reported by Centre Presse Aveyron, in a busy day that also saw the exit of Mehdi Baaloudj.

The transfer of Ibrahima Baldé to FC Lorient was finalised as a loan with an obligation to buy, for an estimated fee of three million euros. The 26-year-old striker left the Stade Paul-Lignon by private plane in the early afternoon, after passing his medical. This successful medical marks a turning point for the player, who had failed this stage a year earlier during an attempted move to Cercle Brugge. Baldé leaves behind a significant legacy, having become the club's all-time top scorer in Ligue 2 with 24 league goals, extended to 25 including play-offs.

Who replaces Ibrahima Baldé at Rodez?

To fill the void left by their star striker, Rodez's management acted swiftly by signing Kélian Nsona. The 24-year-old forward has signed a three-year contract with the Sang & Or, arriving from Portuguese club Casa Pia. The club welcomed their new player via a message on Twitter, stating: "Notre nouvel attaquant est prêt à imposer sa puissance sur le front de l’attaque Sang & Or." Nsona arrives after a season in Portugal where he scored once in ten appearances, but had previously shown his effectiveness in the Netherlands with FC Emmen, in the Dutch second division, where he scored 13 goals and provided 5 assists.

This signing adds to the arrival, the day before, of Mathis Saka on loan with an option to buy. The young player was already present at training with his new teammates on the morning of Baldé's departure. These moves come as Rodez holds a solid fourth place in Ligue 2, with seven points from four games. The team has a record of two wins, one draw and one loss, with recent form of DWLW. They have scored ten goals and conceded seven, for a positive goal difference of +3.

What other moves marked the end of the transfer window?

Beyond the record transfer of Baldé, September 1 was marked by the contract termination of Mehdi Baaloudj. Journalist Benjamin Quarez reported on social media: "Mehdi Baaloudj n’est plus un joueur de #Rodez (L2). L’attaquant a résilié aujourd'hui son contrat qui se terminait en 2028." This decision frees up a spot in the squad and in the wage bill.

President Pierre-Olivier Murat and coach Didier Santini could still be active in the transfer market, even after the official deadline of 8:00 PM. The name of Marco Essimi, a player who previously played for Dunkerque and recently became a free agent after leaving Portugal's Alverca, is circulating as a potential target. These adjustments aim to strengthen a squad that must now focus on continuing its positive momentum in the league.

What is the sporting context for these transfers?

Baldé's departure comes as he was in excellent form, having scored five goals in just four Ligue 2 matches this season, including a hat-trick against Nantes two weeks earlier. His performances had attracted attention from several clubs. His transfer allows Rodez to receive a significant sum, while the player joins the top flight after reviving his career at the club in 2024, following injury issues at RC Lens.

These attacking changes also follow the earlier summer departure of Taïryk Arconte. The team therefore presents a renewed attacking line for the rest of the season. The objective is clear: to maintain their push at the top of the table, where the Aveyronnais currently trail leaders Saint-Étienne by five points. The first test for this new forward line will come quickly, with an away trip to Metz, seventh in the table, scheduled for September 5, 2026. Fans can follow the preparation for this match on our fixtures page and check the updated squad composition in our squad section.