Nathan Zeze: Lens linked with move for NEOM SC defender

France and Ivory Coast defender Nathan Zeze is being linked with a move from Saudi Pro League club NEOM SC to Ligue 1 side Lens.

The 21-year-old centre-back joined NEOM from French club Nantes in July 2025 in a deal worth €20m. He has a contract with the Saudi club until 30 June 2030.

Zeze has started all three of NEOM’s Saudi Pro League matches this season, playing every minute. He also appeared in the King’s Cup, providing an assist in a 4-? match. [Need not invent score; sentence with assist only.]

A return to France would take Zeze back to the league in which he began his senior career with Nantes. He made the move to NEOM after progressing through Nantes’ youth and reserve sides, having won the French Under-19 championship with the club in 2022-23.

The reported interest from Lens comes while Zeze remains a regular starter for NEOM. His current market value is listed at €20m, matching the fee paid for him last year, although no transfer fee has been reported for a potential move to Lens.

Zeze, who was born in Nantes and stands 1.90m tall, is left-footed and plays at centre-back. Any move would involve negotiations with NEOM given his long-term contract, which runs through June 2030.