Elye Wahi is back in Ligue 1 — and, more importantly, back at Nice. OGC Nice have officially announced the return of the 23-year-old striker on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt. Having already spent the second half of last season with Les Aiglons, the former Marseille forward was keen to return to the Côte d’Azur.
Barely gone, already back. Wahi returns to Nice on a season-long loan for the 2026-27 campaign. Nice will pay Frankfurt around €1.5 million and will also have a purchase option estimated at €15 million. The deal allows the club to strengthen its attack without making a major immediate investment.
Wahi Was Determined to Return to Nice
The move comes as little surprise. Wahi had already joined Nice on loan during the previous winter transfer window and had made it clear that he wanted to continue his adventure on the French Riviera. After completing a full pre-season with Frankfurt, the French striker has finally got his wish with another loan spell. Still only 23, Wahi has already experienced a highly eventful career. Developed at Montpellier, he emerged there as one of Ligue 1’s most promising young strikers before joining Lens for around €30 million in the summer of 2023.
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His spell in northern France lasted just one season. In the summer of 2024, Olympique de Marseille invested heavily in him to strengthen their attack, but his time at OM quickly came to an end and Wahi left during the following winter transfer window to join Eintracht Frankfurt. His German adventure did not provide lasting stability either, leading Frankfurt to loan him to Nice last winter. A few months later, the two clubs have decided to repeat the arrangement.
Wahi arrives this time having completed the entire pre-season with Eintracht. He also featured at the World Cup with Ivory Coast before returning to the German club. The striker could quickly be back in Ligue 1 action, with Olivier Pantaloni potentially handing him a start away to Paris FC on Sunday at 3 p.m. For Nice, who finished only 16th last season, the objective is clear: help the former Montpellier forward rediscover his scoring touch while adding greater firepower to an attack that will need it this season.
