Central defender Axel Drouhin has left FC Annecy, the Ligue 2 club, to sign for Belgian side Courtrai. The news September 4, 2026, comes just hours before the transfer window closes at midnight.
Drouhin, a key part of Annecy's defence, has signed a three-season contract with KV Courtrai, a team newly promoted to Belgium's top flight. The Belgian offer arrived late on Thursday evening, forcing a quick decision. This exit, combined with the serious long-term injury to François Lajugie (cruciate ligament rupture on August 14), deprives Annecy's manager of his starting centre-back pairing ahead of a trip to Grenoble.
FC Annecy's defence is suddenly under pressure. With the departure of Axel Drouhin and the long-term absence of François Lajugie, the team loses its two main central defenders. This situation arises as the club holds a solid position in the league, sitting sixth in Ligue 2 with seven points from four games. Their record is two wins, one draw, and one loss, with a positive goal difference of +1 (five goals scored, four conceded).
The manager must now turn to other options within his squad. The list of available defenders includes Delphis, Do Marcolino, Kouadio, Lima, Marre, Oduro, and Veillon. The club has been active this summer to strengthen the group, notably with the arrival of defender Do Marcolino from Rennes. The exact composition of the defence for the next match is one of the main unanswered questions.
The departure of Axel Drouhin is part of a very busy summer transfer window for FC Annecy. The club has recorded several notable arrivals, including midfielders Koné and Young (loan) from Aston Villa, forward Redmond (loan) also from Aston Villa, and midfielder Casadei from Basel. In defence, Brazilian Do Marcolino and Ghanaian Oduro (FC Barcelona) were recruited.
On the departures side, aside from Drouhin, notable moves include Touré to Barnsley (English League One), Hbouch to Boulogne-sur-Mer (Ligue 2), and Paris to Reims (Ligue 2). Several players also left at the end of their contracts, such as Pajot, Nsakala, and Debbiche. This significant squad overhaul aims to build a competitive team, just five points behind leaders Saint-Étienne in the standings.
Despite these defensive upheavals, FC Annecy approaches the next phase of the season with positive indicators. The team's recent form is DLWW, keeping them in the upper part of the table. The next challenge is an away trip to Guingamp, scheduled for September 12, 2026. Guingamp currently sits in 11th place, making it an important fixture in the race for the top spots.
Fans can track the upcoming schedule on our fixtures page and view the full squad list on the squad page. The next match will be key to see how the new central defensive partnership gels. The team will need to find its footing quickly to confirm its strong start and remain in contention, five points off the top.
