Souleymane Basse is set to leave Valenciennes FC after a prolonged standoff, with the Senegalese defender reportedly close to joining Pau FC in Ligue 2.
The 22-year-old left-back has spent the past six months sidelined after attempting to force a move last summer, with no playing time for the first team this season. His departure marks the conclusion of a drawn-out saga at the northern French club.
Basse joined Valenciennes in the summer of 2023 as part of Sport Republic’s takeover, arriving as one of the final signings under the new management.
Initially hampered by a toe injury, he missed the first half of the 2023–24 season before establishing himself as a regular, featuring in 23 Ligue 2 matches and 16 Championnat National games.
His performances on the left flank were praised for energy and consistency, yet by the following summer, Basse had decided his future no longer lay in the north of France.
In an attempt to signal his desire to leave, Basse skipped preseason training, which quickly led to his exclusion from Stéphane Moulin’s first-team plans.
Since then, he has not played a single minute, leaving a situation that had grown increasingly tense for both player and club.
According to La Voix des Sports, the transfer to Pau FC is close to completion and will reportedly include a significant percentage of any future sale being retained by Valenciennes.
This arrangement allows the club to secure potential financial compensation while finally closing a chapter that had become a distraction for the squad.
For Basse, the move represents an opportunity to restart his career and gain regular minutes in Ligue 2, while Pau FC benefit from adding an experienced and dynamic left-back to their squad as they look to strengthen for the remainder of the season.
The resolution of the Basse situation highlights the delicate balance between player ambitions and club management, particularly in the era of increased player mobility and investor-led ownership structures in French football.
