What happened: OGC Nice have confirmed the signing of midfielder Laurent Abergel, 33, on a free transfer after his three-year contract with Lorient was terminated by mutual consent earlier this week. He has agreed a three-year deal that runs through 2029. At Nice, Abergel links back up with Olivier Pantaloni, who captained him at Lorient last season.

Why it matters: The veteran gives Nice added experience in central midfield after a campaign in which the club narrowly avoided relegation. He arrives as the first signing of new sporting director Roger Ricort, who took over from Florian Maurice this summer. Pantaloni's appointment in place of Claude Puel already signaled a reset at the Allianz Riviera, and Abergel's arrival reinforces that continuity between manager and player.

What to watch: Watch how Pantaloni deploys Abergel in his midfield setup and whether Ricort follows this free-transfer move with further additions as Nice reshape for the 2026 campaign.