Paris FC splashing the cash: Immobile signs as Matondo deal hits £15m
The newly-promoted Parisian club continues their ambitious spending with veteran striker Ciro Immobile and teenage midfielder Rudy Matondo joining the ranks.
Paris FC are making it crystal clear they’re not in Ligue 1 just to make up the numbers, with a January transfer window that shows serious ambition to cement their top-flight status.
Spending spree continues
After dropping a whopping €57.3 million last summer, the capital’s second club has now forked out another €15 million in January. It’s proper money they’re spending, and with good reason - they’re currently sitting 14th, a comfortable eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Their winter business didn’t stop with the loan signings of Diego Coppola (Brighton), Luca Koleosho (Burnley) and Marshall Munetsi (Wolverhampton). Paris FC have now made two more significant additions right at the death of the transfer window.
Immobile brings experience
The headline grabber is 35-year-old Italian striker Ciro Immobile, who joins on a one-year deal with an option for another season. The veteran forward arrives from Bologna, where he struggled for game time after his summer move from Besiktas:
- Only 227 minutes played at Bologna
- Four-time Serie A top scorer
- 2020 European Golden Boot winner
This will be Immobile’s fourth adventure abroad, having previously had stints at Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund and Besiktas. While his recent form has been questionable, his pedigree is undeniable - exactly the sort of experienced head that could help a newly-promoted side maintain their status.
Big money for Matondo
While Immobile represents the present, Paris FC’s other signing is firmly about the future. They’ve splashed a massive €15 million on 17-year-old French midfielder Rudy Matondo from Auxerre. That’s not just bread and butter - it’s the whole bloomin’ bakery!
Matondo, a France U18 international, has already accumulated 22 top-flight appearances despite his tender age. He made his Ligue 1 debut at just 17 years and 24 days old and was part of the France squad that reached the U17 European Championship final.
Paris FC’s sporting director Marco Neppe couldn’t hide his excitement, praising the teenager’s “undeniable talent” and “passionate, intense playing style”.
Building for sustainability
With these signings, Paris FC are making a statement that they’re not just in Ligue 1 for a cup of tea and a sit-down. The club is building a squad with both immediate impact players and future prospects, suggesting their ambitions extend well beyond mere survival.
Currently seven points clear of the relegation playoff spot, their shrewd business could be the difference between a swift return to Ligue 2 and establishing themselves as a permanent fixture in French football’s top tier.