Marseille recruits Brazilian midfielder Paixão from Feyenoord to enhance their forward-oriented strategies
In a move to strengthen their attack, Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille has signed Brazilian winger Igor Paixao from Feyenoord for a deal potentially worth €35 million. The 25-year-old, who was voted the Dutch player of the season after scoring 18 goals in 47 games last season, will join the ranks of an already formidable Marseille attack.
Paixao's transfer from Feyenoord to Marseille was confirmed in August 2025, following Marseille's successful bid to beat competition from newly promoted Premier League team Leeds. However, Paixao did not feature in Marseille's matches during the 2022-23 season as he only joined the club mid-2025.
Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi has also brought back veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League. Aubameyang, who scored 21 goals for Al-Qadsiah last season, was a fan favorite during his previous stint at Marseille, where he netted 30 goals overall during the 2023-24 campaign.
The addition of Paixao and Aubameyang to the Marseille attack is complemented by the presence of Amine Gouiri, who scored 21 league goals last season, and Angel Gomes, who has joined Marseille from Lille as an attacking midfielder.
Defensively, Marseille has also bolstered their ranks with the signing of Facundo Medina from Lens as a central defender.
Marseille finished second in Ligue 1 last season, behind Paris Saint-Germain, and qualified directly for the Champions League. They will open the new season against Rennes on Aug. 15.
Vitinha, a forward who scored only six goals in 44 games before being sold to Genoa, was another addition to Marseille's squad earlier this year, with Marseille paying a club-record 32 million euros to Portuguese club Braga to sign the forward in early 2023.
Igor Paixao demonstrated his skills in a Champions League game against AC Milan, scoring a goal and causing trouble for the Milan defense with his quickness. However, Paixao did not play against AC Milan nor impact Marseille's attack during the 2022-23 season.
Marseille will be hoping that the additions of Paixao and Aubameyang, alongside their existing talent, will help them challenge for the Ligue 1 title next season.
- The news about Igor Paixao's transfer from Feyenoord to Marseille, announced in August 2025, was covered extensively by European leagues and international media.
- With the acquisition of Igor Paixao and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Marseille's sports section in Toronto newspapers is likely to feature more stories about the club's attack in the upcoming season.
- Football fans in Toronto anxiously await the start of the new Ligue 1 season, hoping that the strengthened Marseille attack, featuring Igor Paixao and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, will propel the club to the Ligue 1 title.
