The summer transfer window is heating up with a burgeoning battle for the signature of OH LeuvenTeam·OH Leuven's promising central defender, Roggerio NyakossiPlayer·Roggerio Nyakossi. The 22-year-old Swiss U21 captain has drawn considerable attention following a standout 2025/26 season in Belgium, prompting a host of clubs from Germany, England, France, and the Netherlands to enter the race for his services.
In Germany, four BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga clubs have reportedly joined the pursuit. VfB StuttgartTeam·VfB Stuttgart and TSG HoffenheimTeam·Hoffenheim, both having secured European football for the 2026/27 season—Stuttgart qualifying for the Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League and HoffenheimTeam·Hoffenheim for the Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League—are looking to bolster their squads with additional depth and quality. Meanwhile, FC AugsburgTeam·Augsburg and Werder BremenTeam·Werder Bremen are specifically targeting defensive reinforcements after conceding 61 and 60 goals respectively in the recent BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga campaign. AugsburgTeam·Augsburg finished 9th, demonstrating a strong second half of the season, while Werder BremenTeam·Werder Bremen concluded their season in 15th position.
Across the English Channel, Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League duo EvertonTeam·Everton and newly-promoted Ipswich TownTeam·Ipswich Town are also keen on Nyakossi. EvertonTeam·Everton finished 13th in the Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League, and their interest suggests a desire to strengthen their backline after an average season. Ipswich TownTeam·Ipswich Town, celebrating their promotion to the Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League after finishing 2nd in the Championship, views Nyakossi as a crucial addition to fortify their defense ahead of their return to England's top flight. Beyond these two, reports from Het Nieuwsblad indicate that LiverpoolTeam·Liverpool is also monitoring the defender, with the player himself expressing a strong desire to play for the Merseyside club. Other Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League teams such as ChelseaTeam·Chelsea, Crystal PalaceTeam·Crystal Palace, FulhamTeam·Fulham, West Ham UnitedTeam·West Ham United, and Aston VillaTeam·Aston Villa have also been linked, suggesting a potential transfer fee around £8 million (over €9 million).
Further interest extends to France, with LyonTeam·Lyon and StrasbourgTeam·Strasbourg reportedly in contention, alongside Dutch EredivisieCompetition·Eredivisie side FeyenoordTeam·Feyenoord. This widespread interest underscores Nyakossi's growing reputation as a versatile and effective defender.
Nyakossi, who joined OH LeuvenTeam·OH Leuven from Olympique Marseille in January 2025, made 28 appearances and scored four goals during the 2025/26 season, contributing to Leuven securing a European play-off spot. His contract with the Belgian outfit runs until 2027. A significant factor in any potential transfer is Olympique Marseille's reported €6 million buy-back clause, which grants them the first option to re-sign their former player. This clause adds a layer of complexity to negotiations, as Marseille could choose to activate it before any other club can finalize a deal.
When asked about the speculation surrounding his future, Roggerio NyakossiPlayer·Roggerio Nyakossi acknowledged the attention. "It is of course always pleasing when big teams are interested," he stated, while emphasizing his immediate focus on his current club. As the transfer window progresses, the competition for Nyakossi's signature is expected to intensify, with clubs weighing their defensive needs against the financial implications and Marseille's standing buy-back option.
Roggerio Nyakossi (OH Leuven) and Vincent Janssen (Antwerp) in action during a match on August 10, 2025. Belga/IMAGO
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