Nice give Nathan Ngoumou a fresh start after Achilles injury

Nathan Ngoumou has returned to Ligue 1 after joining OGC Nice from Borussia Monchengladbach on a two-year contract.

The 26-year-old Cameroon international winger completed the move on Monday evening, returning to France four years after leaving Toulouse for Germany. The transfer has been completed without a fee, although Borussia Monchengladbach will retain a 10% share of any future sale.

Ngoumou came through the academy at Toulouse before making the move abroad. During his time with Borussia Monchengladbach, he made 78 appearances and scored nine goals.

His arrival at Nice represents an opportunity to restart a career that has been interrupted by a serious injury. Ngoumou suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in April 2025, ruling him out for the whole of last season.

Now recovered, the winger is aiming to use his move to the French Riviera to rebuild his fitness and gradually return to his best form. His return to Ligue 1 gives him the chance to resume his career in familiar surroundings after his four-year spell in Germany.

Ngoumou also highlighted the influence of OGC Nice’s directors and head coach in convincing him to join the club. He expressed enthusiasm about discovering his new environment and beginning the next stage of his career with the Aiglons.

The move comes with Ngoumou still having one year remaining on his Borussia Monchengladbach contract. However, the German club agreed to release him without a transfer fee, subject to the future-sale clause.

The former Toulouse player had attracted interest from elsewhere in France before choosing Nice. AJ Auxerre had also shown an interest in signing the Toulouse-born player, as reported exclusively by Africafoot.

Transfermarkt values Ngoumou at €3.5m. During his time in Germany, he earned an annual salary of €1,040,000, equivalent to 676,000,000 FCFA.

Nice are preparing for the opening matchday of the French championship, when they will face Lorient. The match will provide Ngoumou with an early opportunity to become familiar with his new club’s competitive demands, although his return to action will come after a lengthy period away from first-team football.

The published betting prices list OGC Nice as favourites, with a home win quoted at 2.20. A draw is priced at 3.40, while a Lorient victory is listed at 3.10.

For Ngoumou, the priority is to put the disappointment of his Achilles injury behind him and regain the rhythm of competitive football. His move to OGC Nice brings him back to Ligue 1 and offers a new setting in which to work towards recovering the level he showed before his extended absence.