Cameron Archer and Will Still’s bond powers Auxerre in Ligue 1 | OneFootball

Cameron Archer has scored in each of his first two Ligue 1 games for Auxerre, strengthening a bond with compatriot coach Will Still that began at Southampton.

He struck at Lyon on four September in a 1-3 defeat, then again on 12 September to beat Nice 1-0. L'Équipe notes that Auxerre host Brest on Sunday at 15:00 in matchweek five.

Still has likened Archer to Folarin Balogun, who also netted in his first two Ligue 1 outings for Reims in August 2022 and ended that season on 21 goals, having started with little fanfare.

Archer, 24, is Walsall-born and joined Aston Villa at eight, debuting in the Premier League in September 2021. He had Championship loans to Preston in 2022 and Middlesbrough in 2023, then moved to Sheffield United for €21.5m in August 2023, returned to Villa in July 2024 and joined Southampton five weeks later for €17.6m, experiencing relegation a year on and staying under contract to 2028.

He signed for AJA on one September on loan without an option. Still, who worked at Southampton from July to November 2025, valued Archer’s movement and temperament, depicting a quiet, fairly introverted forward who thrives with trust and works for the team.

Sharing a first language aids clear messaging. Archer can also play wide or in a front two, shown by a left-footed curler into the top corner for Southampton at Norwich in a 3-0 League Cup win on 26 August 2025. Still says he could thrive in Ligue 1 if given space and opportunity, and that their relationship could take him far.

Source: L'Équipe

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