OGC Nice are set to announce the signing of Barcelona defender Jean-Clair Todibo today, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The French centre back is set to join the Ligue 1 side on loan for the rest of the season.
According to Romano, the deal includes a €10 million option to buy for Nice. The deal sees Nice take their tally of signings to two in this transfer window.
OGC Nice Set to Sign Barcelona Defender Jean-Clair Todibo on Loan
Todibo Spent the First Half of the Season at Benfica
The talented centre back started his career at Toulouse. Todibo had only made ten league appearances before Barcelona made a move to sign him. However, his time in Spain has been difficult, with the defender struggling to make an impact.
At 20 years of age, Todibo needs game time. He has already had two loan spells out of Barcelona since joining in 2019. He joined Schalke for the 2019/20 season, making ten appearances before injury halted his time in Germany. The defender spent the first half of this season at Benfica but failed to make a single league appearance with just two coming in cup competitions.
He desperately wants to play football and a return to France offers that. Todibo is set to join an inconsistent Nice side who are enduring a very disappointing season. He is set to be Nice’s second defensive recruit in this transfer window after William Saliba arrived on loan from Arsenal.
Ligue 1 Struggles for Nice
Adrian Ursea has struggled to turn their season around since replacing Patrick Vieira. They are languishing in the bottom half and way off the pace in terms of sneaking a European place. Sunday’s defeat to Saint-Etienne was their third loss in five games. Ursea has overseen just two league victories since taking over.
Todibo is joining a side in need of a confidence boost. He needs the game time to enhance his education and crucially build up some experience. The defender could make his debut in Wednesday’s crucial derby fixture against Monaco.
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