Augsburg defender Chrislain Matsima’s move to Palace draws nearer | OneFootball

Foot Mercato reports that Augsburg defender Chrislain Matsima has agreed to personal terms with Crystal Palace. There shouldn’t be too much standing in the way of a deal to send the €22m-valued defender to the Premier League apart from physical concerns stemming from a recent injury. Augsburg are hopeful of turning a record profit on their €5m investment.

Chrislain Matsima’s rise to Bundesliga stardom

Matsima joined Augsburg on loan from AS Monaco in August 2024 after helping France win silver at the Paris Olympics. The centre-back soon established himself as a regular under Jess Thorup, with his automatic purchase clause triggered after 14 appearances. Augsburg paid approximately €5m to make Matsima a permanent signing in January 2025.

The French youth international subsequently formed part of an excellent back-three alongside Jeffrey Gouweleeuw and Cedric Zesiger. Matsima’s emergence also pushed Maximilian Bauer further down the defensive hierarchy and helped Augsburg develop into one of the Bundesliga’s stronger defensive sides during the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.

Matsima continued to develop after Sandro Wagner took over. The defender started Augsburg’s first seven competitive fixtures of the 2025/26 season, scoring once and supplying two assists. It was then that his estimated market value rose to €22m.

Augsburg later rewarded Matsima with a contract extension through 2030. Even amid the club’s defensive struggles, the Frenchman remained the most consistent member of the back line. A serious thigh injury in January 2026 subsequently deprived Augsburg of what had become their principal defensive pillar.

Matsima returned to action in April of the same year, contesting four Bundesliga fixtures near the end of the campaign. German press sources accorded him largely mixed marks on his comeback. 

GGFN | Peter Weis