Pierre Ekwah transfer: Auxerre move follows Diousse injury

Pierre Ekwah is set to leave AS Saint-Etienne and join AJ Auxerre after the two Ligue 1 clubs reached a full agreement over a paid loan for the defensive midfielder.

According to Foot Mercato, AJ Auxerre will pay €300,000 for the loan. The agreement also includes a non-obligatory option to buy Pierre Ekwah for €6m at the end of the deal.

AJ Auxerre moved quickly to strengthen their midfield after Assane Diousse suffered a serious injury. The midfielder has sustained a cruciate ligament rupture and is expected to be unavailable for a long period, leaving the club needing another option in the centre of the pitch.

Pierre Ekwah has therefore emerged as a solution for the Burgundy-based side, who are preparing to welcome him as he begins a new chapter in Ligue 1. The move is also intended to provide the Franco-Cameroonian player with an opportunity to revive his career after a difficult period at AS Saint-Etienne.

The 23-year-old has returned to the French club following a loan spell at Watford, where he made seven appearances in the Championship. However, he had not featured for AS Saint-Etienne since the start of the new campaign.

Ekwah had been involved in a dispute with Les Verts for several months, although he continued to train normally with the first-team group. His lack of competitive involvement had left his future at the club uncertain, with a move now close to resolving the situation.

The player was in Burgundy on Wednesday to undergo his medical examination. He is now nearing the completion of his transfer to AJ Auxerre, with the signing of his contract expected to follow the medical.

For Auxerre, the deal offers an immediate midfield reinforcement following Diousse’s injury, while the loan structure gives the club the possibility of making the move permanent through the €6m option. That option is not compulsory, meaning AJ Auxerre will decide at the end of the loan whether to pursue a permanent transfer.

For Ekwah, the move represents a return to regular competition after his limited involvement with AS Saint-Etienne and his seven-match spell at Watford. He is expected to continue his career in Ligue 1 with AJ Auxerre once the final formalities of the agreement have been completed.