Official | Julien Laporte joins Montpellier from Lorient | OneFootball

Montpellier HSC have kick-started their summer rebuild with the announcement that they’ve signed Julien Laporte (31) from FC Lorient.

The centre-back becomes the first player brought into La Paillade in what could prove to be a busy summer, with the club wishing to restart their project following a terrible season where they came last in Ligue 1 and were relegated to the second tier of French football.

Laporte, who was coming to the end of his contract with Lorient this June, opted to join the former Ligue 1 champions instead of extending his time with Les Merlus, who will be playing their football back in the top tier after they won Ligue 2.

Foot Mercato writes that Laporte was given the option to sign a one-year renewal with Lorient, but they explain that he was persuaded to sign a three-year deal with the southern side. Laporte will be hoping to make it two promotions in a row.

GFFN | Nick Hartland