‘I only had Marseille on my mind’ – Benjamin Pavard arrives in Marseille | OneFootball

Benjamin Pavard was Olympique de Marseille’s final signing of the summer but has only now officially arrived in Provence after his stint with the French national team. Joining from Inter on a loan with a €16M option to buy, the World Cup winner is set to strengthen an OM defence in need of experience. “I only had Olympique de Marseille in my head,” Pavard said upon arrival, greeted by around fifty supporters at Marseille’s airport earlier today – transcribed by La Provence. The versatile defender comes with an impressive CV: a Champions League winner with Bayern Munich in 2020 and a recent finalist with Inter. Yet, unlike previous star arrivals at Marseille – Alexis Sanchez, Adrien Rabiot, or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Pavard’s welcome was relatively calm, far from the usual fireworks and mass crowds.The France international and 2018 World Cup winner started his career in his home country, coming up through the ranks at Lille OSC. During this window, he was linked with a return to his hometown club. Marseille’s priority this summer has been to improve their defence, having already brought in CJ Egan-Riley on a free transfer from Burnley FC and Facundo Medina on loan from RC Lens.

Deadline day moves for West Ham United pairing have also been concluded for Morocco centre-back Nayef Aguerd (29) and former Chelsea defender Emerson Palmieri (31). Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Matt O’Riley has also recently joined the club on loan for the rest of the season.GFFN | George Boxall