League of Future Stars: Seven former French Ligue 1 players thriving in the Premier League
French Ligue 1 has been the name of the top division in French football league since 2002, before that it was called Division 1. The league in its original form was inaugurated in 1932, two years after professionalism in French football became legal. The first season featured 20 teams, the same number of teams that are included in Ligue 1 today. Ligue 1 is the top tier of the French football league system, one level above the current Ligue 2, and apparently it has been dominated by one team called PSG for many years.
There are a quite number of stars who left the French Ligue and went on to become living legends and some are still playing to build the legacy. In this article we are delighted to cover the stars that left the French Ligue 1 and are still building their careers as living legends, making an impact and leaving a mark that cannot be erased.
Per Mertesacker of Arsenal is challenged by Fabinho Tavares of Monaco during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between AS Monaco and Arsenal at Stade Louis II on March 17, 2015 in Monaco, Monaco.
(March 16, 2015 - Source: Michael Steele/Getty Images Europe)
1. Fabinho
Full name: Fabio Henrique Tavares
Nation: Brazil
Club Team: Liverpool FC
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Year of Birth: 1993
Bought from: Monaco
Fabinho, full name Fabio Henrique Tavares, is a patrolling defensive midfielder who agreed a deal to join Liverpool from AS Monaco on May 28, 2018. The midfielder officially became a Red on July 1 and took the No.3 shirt for the team's first pre-season friendly of the summer against Chester FC. Jürgen Klopp preached patience when it came to the Brazilian's adaptation to English football after five seasons in Ligue 1. He would make his debut for the club on September 18, 2018, when he appeared as an injury-time substitute in a 3-2 victory over Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield in the Champions League. The win over Paris Saint- German was one that will be talked for ages in Liverpool’s football history and it is imperative to note that Fabinho contributed immensely to that memorable win.
Fabinho was born in Sao Paulo in 1993, but his first professional club was Rio side Fluminese. He left there for Rio Ave Portugal in June 2012 without making a first team appearance. However, after just a month in northern Portugal he was loaned to Real Madrid's reserve side Castilla for the 2012-13 season and made his debut towards the end of the season.
He was handed his first start in Liverpool colors against Chelsea in the third round of the League Cup where the Reds were beaten by 2-1. It was towards the end of October, though, where Fabinho began to find his feet in Klopp's side. Man of the Match performances against Red Star Belgrade and Manchester United quickly followed, providing a boost to disappointed fans. A defensive midfielder who can play in either full-back position, Fabinho's versatility was a factor in Jurgen Klopp's decision to sign him with Emre Can's contract expiring in June 2018. Despite not being an attacking player, he scored an impressive 23 goals in 167 Ligue 1 appearances for Monaco over five years. Still coming to terms with Jurgen Klopp's intense fitness and training methods, Fabinho has had to be patient. Notable achievements for Fabinho include but not limited to winning the French Super Cup with AS Monaco in 2017, and the UEFA Champions League and Supercup in the year 2019 as a Liverpool player.
Anthony Martial of Monaco in action during the Emirates Cup match between Valencia and AS Monaco at the Emirates Stadium on August 2, 2014 in London, England.
(Aug. 1, 2014 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)
2. Anthony Martial
Full name: Anthony Jordan Martial
Nation: France
Club Team: Manchester United FC
Position: Forward
Year of Birth: 1995
Bought from: AS Monaco
Playing youth football for Les Ulis, Martial began his professional career at Lyon, and then transferred to AS Monaco in 2013 for a fee of €6 million. He was a member of Monaco's squad for two seasons, and signed for Manchester United in 2015 for an initial fee of £36 million which could potentially rise to £57.6 million. This was the highest fee paid for a teenager in football history even before the potential increase. He scored in his first match for the Red Devils and was named the Premier League Player of the Month in his first month in English football.
A youth international for France from under-16 to under-21 level, Martial made his senior debut in 2015. He was named in their squad for UEFA Euro 2016.
On 30 June 2013, AS Monaco announced they had signed Martial to a three-year contract for a fee of €5 million-plus bonuses. On 24 November, he made his first league appearance for the club at the age of 17, replacing Radamel Falcao after 63 minutes and playing a part in Mounir Obbadi's goal which gave victory away to FC Nantes. He scored his first goal for the renowned club on his first start, a 2–0 win over Rennes at the Stade Louis II six days later. His campaign was disrupted by a sprained ankle against Valenciennes in December. On 27 January 2014, he extended his contract until June 2018.
In his second season at Monaco, Martial scored nine goals in 36 Ligue 1 games, starting on 5 October 2014 when he came on as a substitute for Lucas Ocampos, he gained a 1–1 draw at reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain with a last-minute strike from close range. He scored twice against a 10-man Bastia on 13 March 2015 in a 3–0 home victory. On 26 June, he further extended his link with the team until 2019.
On 4 August 2015, Martial scored his first goal in European competition, in a 4–0 home win over BSC Young Boys in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League; Monaco advanced 7–1 on aggregate.
Anthony then joined the Red Devils on transfer deadline day during the summer of 2015 and made his mark by scoring an excellent debut goal as a substitute against Liverpool, which immediately won the love and respect of the fans. That famous strike later won the club’s Goal of the Season award during the annual prize-giving night at Old Trafford, beating off competition from Marcus Rashford.
Martial finished the 2015/16 season as United’s top scorer with 17 goals from 49 appearances and that included a dramatic added-time winner during the FA Cup semi-final victory over Everton, which led to earning a winners’ medal following the 2-1 extra-time win over Crystal Palace in the final. That wrapped up a superb maiden season in which the Reds forward emphasised his massive potential.
The 2016/17 campaign, his first under the management of Jose Mourinho, yielded eight goals from 42 appearances, plus three trophies in the form of the FA Community Shield, EFL Cup and UEFA Europa League. The 2017/18 season, saw the no.11 shift up a gear once more, his explosive pace and instinctive eye for goal making him a key part of United's attacking armory. Either sharing attacking duties with Rashford or being unleashed as part of a front three with Marcus and Lukaku, Martial surpassed his goals total from the previous season. Five goals in United's opening eight games, plus a run of form in January meant that the Frenchman ended the season with 11 goals in all competitions.
Anthony enjoyed a good first half of the 2018/19 season and was voted Player of the Month for October by fans after a series of impressive performances. On 31 January 2019, Martial signed a new contract, keeping him at the club until June 2024, with the option to extend for a further year. Following Romelu Lukaku's move to Inter Milan, he switched back to United's no.9 jersey and quickly got off the mark for 2019/20 season with the second goal in the 4-0 rout of Chelsea at Old Trafford, giving an early indication that he will thrive on the responsibility of playing down the middle and compensating for the lack of the Belgian's goals.
Benjamin Mendy of Monaco in action during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City FC and AS Monaco at Etihad Stadium on February 21, 2017 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
(Feb. 20, 2017 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)
3. Benjamin Mendy
Full name: Benjamin Mendy
Nation: France
Club Team: Manchester City FC
Position: Left-back
Year of Birth: 1994
Bought from: AS Monaco
Benjamin Mendy arrived at City from Monaco, signing a five-year deal in July 2017. In the two seasons since, the Frenchman has suffered a number of injury set-backs, but evidenced his quality in 23 appearances in which his high energy, attacking approach to the full-back position thrived.
Mendy began his career with Le Havre, where he played more than 50 league games, before joining Marseille in 2013. He impressed at the Stade Velodrome, making 101 appearances in three seasons and gained a reputation as one of the best full-backs in the French top flight.
His performances earned him a move to Monaco, where he was a key component of Leanardo Jardim’s side’s improvement. His surging runs down the left flank were central to the Red and Whites’ success in the 2016/17 season, claiming the Ligue 1 title and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League.
It was in Europe where Mendy and Monaco particularly impressed, with notable scalps against City and Borussia Dortmund in the knockout stages, whilst domestically, he was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year. He enjoyed a strong start to his City career, winning his first five games and keeping four clean sheets in the process, but his debut season was ruined by a knee injury which kept him out until April 2018.
His return saw him selected for France’s 2018 World Cup squad, where Les Bleus were victorious, but his 2018/19 campaign was again hampered by injuries. He made 16 appearances in total and registered five assists as City lifted the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Community shield. Mendy is a World Cup winner, two-time English title winner, English FA Cup winner, English League Cup winner and French Cup winner.
“The 2017/18 season, saw the no.11 shift up a gear once more, his explosive pace and instinctive eye for goal making him a key part of United’s attacking armory. Either sharing attacking duties with Rashford or being unleashed as part of a front three with Marcus and Lukaku..”
Bernardo Silva of AS Monaco runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and AS Monaco FC at Wembley Stadium on September 14, 2016 in London, England.
(Sept. 13, 2016 - Source: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe)
4. Bernardo Silva
Full name: Bernardo Mota Veiga de Carvalho e Silva
Nation: Portugal
Club Team: Manchester City FC
Position: Midfielder
Year of Birth: 1994
Bought from: AS Monaco
Born in Lisbon, Silva came through Benfica's youth academy. He began playing for Benfica B in 2013 and was promoted to the first-team in 2014, playing a few minutes with the latter. He was on loan at the Ligue 1 side Monaco during the 2014–15 season, with Les Monégasques making the move permanent in winter 2015. After winning the national championship with them in 2017, he was signed by English club Manchester City for a reported fee of £43.5 million. He subsequently won the Premier League and EFL Cup in his first season in England, following this up with a domestic treble the following season. He had a significant role in City becoming the first men's team in England to win a domestic treble, also being named Manchester City's Player of the Year in 2019.
Silva made his senior debut for Portugal in 2015 after previously being capped by Portugal youth teams at under-21 and under-19 levels. He was selected in Portugal's squads for the 2017 Confederations Cup, 2018 World Cup and 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals on home soil, winning the latter tournament as its best player.
In the 2018 World Cup, Bernardo played in all four games as Portugal reached the last 16. His second season in Manchester proved even better on both a personal and team level. City swept all the four trophies domestically and the 24-year-old was sensational throughout. He recorded 13 goals and 14 assists in 51 appearances, winning Man of the Match in the Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea and ending the campaign as the Club’s Player of the Season. Early in 2019 he signed a contract extension which keeps him at City until 2025.
Alexandre Lacazette of Olympique Lyonnais in action during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 second leg match between AS Roma and Olympique Lyonnais at Stadio Olimpico on March 16, 2017 in Rome, Italy.
(March 15, 2017 - Source: Paolo Bruno/Getty Images Europe)
5. Alexandre Lacazette
Full name: Alexandre Lacazette
Nation: France
Club Team: Arsenal
Position: Forward
Year of Birth: 1991
Bought from: Olympique Lyonnais
Born in Lyon, Lacazette began his senior career at the city's largest club Olympique Lyonnais at age 19, after impressing as a member of the team's youth setup. He initially played as a winger, but was converted into a striker. This success led him to start for the side regularly by 2012, where at age 21, he helped the club win a Coupe de France and a Trophée des Champions title.
During his time at the club, Lacazette developed into a regular goalscorer, becoming renowned for his prowess in front of goal, as well as his team-first mentality, gaining comparisons to Ian Wright by Gérard Houllier. Lacazette also helped the club make a return to the UEFA Champions League, and contributed heavily to Lyon's runner up finishes in Ligue 1 in the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons. Lacazette recorded league-high 27 goals, and won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award for his performances. Despite this, the club failed to win any additional trophies, and Lacazette began voicing his desire to leave.
After being honored in three Ligue 1 Team of the Year designations, as well as in a UEFA Europa League Squad of the season, Lacazette was the subject of, at the time, a club-record transfer to English team Arsenal in 2017, when he moved from Lyon in a deal worth £46.5 million. In England, Lacazette captured a FA Community Shield title in his debut season. In his second season, he was named the club's Player of the season, and gained praise for his strike partnership with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, as he helped Arsenal reach the UEFA Europa League final.
Lacazette made his debut for the senior side of the France national team in 2013, after he represented his nation across all youth levels. The 28-year-old was a key contributor in France's victory in the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, where he scored the match-winning goal in the final against Spain. The Arsenal striker continues to add value to the Arsenal team as they continue pursuing to become part of the premier league top 4.
Tiemoue Bakayoko of Monaco in action during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final second leg match between Juventus and AS Monaco at Juventus Stadium on May 9, 2017 in Turin, Italy.
(May 8, 2017 - Source: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images Europe)
6. Tiemoue Bakayoko
Full name: Tiémoué Bakayoko
Nation: France
Club Team: Monaco (On loan from Chelsea)
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Year of Birth:1994
Bought from: AS Monaco
Due to his ability to break up play, the defensive midfielder is considered to have all-round ability, as well as possessing physical power and athleticism, with France national team manager Didier Deschamps describing him as “a complete midfielder.”
Bakayoko joined the academy at Rennes at the age of 13. At 14, he was turned down by the Clairfontaine academy. His senior career began at Rennes where he made 24 appearances before moving to Monaco in 2014 for £7 million. In his first two seasons at the club, Bakayoko made 31 Ligue 1 appearances, but was a regular starter in the 2016–17 season, contributing to Monaco's Ligue 1 title win as well as being named in the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League squad of the season. In 2017, he joined Chelsea for £40 million. Bakayoko made his first senior international appearance for the France national team in March 2017. This man has so much potential and he is growing to become a living legend if continues to work hard and push himself to the limits.
7. David Luiz
Full name: David Luiz
David Luiz of Paris Saint Germain in action during the pre-season friendly match between SSC Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Stadio San Paolo on August 11, 2014 in Naples, Italy.
(Aug. 10, 2014 - Source: Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images Europe
Nation: Brazil
Club Team: Arsenal
Position: Centre Back
Year of Birth: 1987
Bought from: PSG
After starting out at Vitória, David Luiz moved to Benfica, remaining with the club for five seasons. He joined Chelsea in January 2011, winning the UEFA Champions League during the 2011–12 season. In the following season, he won the UEFA Europa League. In June 2014, he transferred to Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of £50 million, a world-record transfer for a defender, and won all four domestic competitions over his two seasons in French football. His resume is absolutely out of this world and he is one of the best defenders of all time despite some mistakes he has made over the years of his career. He returned to Chelsea in August 2016 in a £30 million transfer deal.
David Luiz made his full international debut for Brazil in 2010 and has since earned over 50 caps for his country. He was a member of the Brazilian teams which won the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and reached the semi-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and has also represented his nation in two editions of the Copa América. David Luiz continues his career at Arsenal where he is working hard in developing a strong and undisputed defense system for Arsenal football club.
Parting note
All the mentioned players moved to French Ligue 1 and made a remarkable impact, which attracted the interest of other leagues particularly the English Premier League teams and that is where all of them are playing now. They continue building their careers as living legends and hopefully will create unforgettable moments in the English Premier League that will catapult them to even greater clubs, greater history positions and greater sponsorship deals.