Balerdi’s Potential Marseille Exit and Pursuit of Fulham’s Sam Amissah

Olympique de Marseille captain Leonardo Balerdi could be on the move during the next transfer window, with the club already identifying Fulham’s Sam Amissah as a potential replacement. Balerdi’s future at the club hinges, in part, on Marseille’s qualification for the Champions League, but his departure is considered a credible possibility regardless of their final league position.

Balerdi’s Time at Marseille

Leonardo Balerdi was appointed captain of Olympique de Marseille by Roberto De Zerbi in early 2025. The Argentinian centre-back has been a key figure for the club, making 123 appearances since joining on loan in 2020 and subsequently making the move permanent in 2021. Leonardo Balerdi began his professional career at Boca Juniors in 2018 before moving to Borussia Dortmund and then to Marseille.

Coupe de France Disappointment

Recent setbacks, including a penalty shootout loss to Toulouse FC in the Coupe de France quarter-final, have heightened speculation about Balerdi’s future. Both Balerdi and Ethan Nwaneri missed crucial penalties in the shootout, with manager Habib Beye stating they were the “most affected” by the elimination. Habib Beye acknowledged Nwaneri’s courage in taking a penalty despite the pressure.

Sam Amissah: A Potential Replacement

Marseille is reportedly targeting Sam Amissah, a young central defender from Fulham, as a potential replacement for Balerdi. The 19-year-old England U19 international currently plays for Fulham’s reserve team and is yet to make a first-team appearance. Despite this, Amissah is highly regarded by European recruiters as a promising talent in his position.

Competition for Amissah

Marseille faces significant competition for Amissah’s signature, with several top clubs too expressing interest, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Juventus Turin and Ajax Amsterdam. OM successfully secured CJ Egan-Riley last summer despite competition from English clubs, and will hope to replicate that success with Amissah.

Looking Ahead

While securing Sam Amissah would be a significant achievement for Marseille, the club will need to convince him to choose the Vélodrome over numerous other high-profile suitors. The success of CJ Egan-Riley at Marseille has been limited so far, adding pressure to ensure any new signing proves to be a valuable addition to the squad.