Marseille weigh Karl Toko Ekambi move as doubts remain over his recent form

Marseille are considering a move for free agent Karl Toko Ekambi if they need to reduce their squad before making further signings, but the Cameroon international’s recent record raises questions over whether he can still perform at the level required by the Ligue 1 club.

With less than a week remaining before the summer transfer window closes in France, Marseille must sell players before they can register possible new arrivals. According to Foot Mercato, the club have identified Toko Ekambi as one potential option.

The 33-year-old striker has been without a club for almost two months, meaning Marseille could recruit him without paying a transfer fee. That financial advantage is particularly significant for a club currently operating under austerity measures.

Toko Ekambi is also understood to be keen on returning to France. He has not played for Cameroon since January 2024, when he featured around the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, despite having won 61 international caps and scored 14 goals.

However, with his 34th birthday approaching on 14 September, Marseille must decide whether the experienced forward remains a suitable attacking option.

A career that has lost momentum

Toko Ekambi began his career at Paris FC before moving to Sochaux, Angers and Villarreal. He later joined Olympique Lyonnais, where he enjoyed a particularly productive 2019-20 season, although his time at the club ended on a low note in August 2023 after a loan spell at Rennes.

Since leaving France, his spells in the Gulf have been less memorable. The Paris-region-born forward initially moved around Saudi Arabia, where he averaged roughly one goal every four matches.

His most productive period came at Abha Club, the first stop in his Saudi Arabian spell. He scored seven goals in 17 appearances for the club, who are nicknamed the Southern Chiefs.

His output then declined at Al-Ettifaq, where he managed nine goals in 41 matches, and at Al-Fateh, where he scored once in 10 games.

Toko Ekambi improved those figures slightly during his time at Al-Arabi in Qatar, scoring six goals in 12 matches between January and July this year.

Even so, the numbers do not currently suggest a forward operating at the level Marseille would expect. Ligue 1 is considered a stronger competition than both the Saudi Pro League and the Qatar Stars League, meaning a return to France would represent a significant test.

Should the proposed move become reality, Toko Ekambi would need to rediscover his best form quickly if he is to make a meaningful impact at Marseille. His experience and availability on a free transfer may appeal to the club, but his recent scoring record leaves uncertainty over whether he can provide the attacking contribution required at the Stade Velodrome.