Metinho: RC Lens eye move for Basel’s DR Congo-Brazil midfielder

Metinho, the DR Congo-Brazil midfielder currently with Swiss champions Basel, is being linked with a summer move to Ligue 1 side Lens. The 23-year-old central midfielder, who has a contract in Basel running until 30 June 2030, is attracting interest after establishing himself as a regular in the Swiss Super League.

Lens are monitoring Metinho following a season in which he made 41 league appearances for Basel, contributing four goals and two assists from central midfield. His form has coincided with a sharp rise in his valuation, which now stands at around €8m, reflecting his growing importance at St. Jakob-Park.

Basel only made Metinho’s stay permanent in July 2025, paying €4m to sign him from Troyes after an earlier loan spell. He was part of the Basel side that secured the domestic double in 2024-25, winning both the Swiss league title and the Swiss Cup, achievements that have boosted his profile across Europe.

Metinho’s career has already taken in top-flight football in the Eredivisie and Belgium’s Challenger Pro League, as well as appearances in European competition, including the Europa League and Champions League qualifying rounds. That experience, combined with his versatility in central midfield and right-footed profile, is understood to appeal to Lens as they look to strengthen for the new campaign.

Any deal is likely to be complex given the length of Metinho’s current contract and Basel’s position after building a side around him since his arrival in 2025. For now, he remains a key figure for the Swiss club, who are under no pressure to sell before his deal expires in 2030.