Salis Abdul Samed is set to join French club Nice on a three-year deal after rejecting interest from Turkey and Russia, Footy-Africa can exclusively reveal.
The 25-year-old defensive midfielder will move from RC Lens in a transfer worth €2.5 million plus a percentage of any future resale.
A close source talking exclusively to Footy-Africa indicated that Salis had made certain concessions during contract negotiations, with his new deal set to earn him less than the €120,000 gross monthly salary he was on at Lens. The negotiations were smooth, with the player desperate to move on in search of a fresh challenge.
Salis endured a challenging 2024/25 season, including an unsuccessful loan spell in England with Sunderland. Upon returning to Lens for pre-season, the club made it clear he was not part of their plans, relegating him to train with the reserves.
He played in a few friendlies with the youth side while his agents worked to secure a move. Nice emerged as the preferred destination after Kayserispor and Başakşehir from Turkey showed interest, alongside CSKA Moscow in Russia. The player turned all of them down in favour of Nice’s project, which promises regular game time.
After losing form over the past year, Salis sees France as a safe haven to rediscover himself. He was outstanding in the 2022/23 season, helping Lens qualify for the Champions League and impressing in the competition. Chelsea had shown interest before the 2023/24 campaign, but he opted to stay — a decision followed by a dip in form.
His struggles have also affected his place in the Ghana national team, and he is determined to fight his way back into Otto Addo’s squad. With the Black Stars in strong contention for a spot at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Salis is keen to re-establish himself at international level.
Samed joined Lens from Clermont in 2022 and quickly became an important figure in the club’s midfield. At Nice, he will be reunited with his former Clermont coach Franck Haise, who now leads the Ligue 1 side.
