Marseille faces massive squad sell-off amid financial crisis and UEFA sanctions

Olympique de Marseille entered the 2026-27 season with a completely new hierarchy—president, sporting director and coach—who immediately signaled that almost every first-team member is available for transfer. Early exits have included Mason Greenwood to Fernabahçe for €39 million, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Deportivo La Corunna, goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli to Manchester City and defender Facundo Medina to Bayer Leverkusen, with more names linked to English clubs.

UEFA’s recent ruling fined the club €10 million, prohibited new player registrations for European competition this season and imposed a suspended exclusion that could activate if financial targets are missed again, after Marseille failed to meet a 2022 settlement and breached its squad-cost ratio. Owner Frank McCourt, who has injected more than €700 million since buying the club, has indicated he will stop covering losses, and former director of football Medhi Benatia said he only learned of the severity of the crisis during a January meeting with McCourt and Pablo Longoria.

The club continues to rely on external firms such as Excel Sports, Unique Sports and Image 7 for recruitment, sales and lobbying, creating a paradox where the new sporting director, Grégory Lorenzi, must rebuild while outsiders are tasked with dismantling the squad. New manager Bruno Génésio, aware of DNCG restrictions, stressed the need for patience and expects the roster to look markedly different by August’s end.