Olympique de Marseille faces a shifting landscape in the summer transfer market as defensive targets and financial adjustments reshape the club’s strategy. According to reports from regional media outlets, central defender Nayef Aguerd has unexpectedly declined a move to Real Sociedad despite a completed medical examination, while midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg may remain at the Stade Velodrome as lucrative offers fail to materialize.
The developments come as Marseille manager Bruno Genesio works to reduce the club’s wage bill and manage squad depth under tight financial constraints. With the transfer window drawing toward its close, the club’s leadership is pivoting toward alternative departures to secure necessary liquidity.
Aguerd Rejects Real Sociedad Despite Completed Medical
Nayef Aguerd will not complete a transfer to Real Sociedad, according to reporting confirmed by journalist Santi Aouna. The Moroccan central defender opted against the move at the final hour after direct discussions with Basque club manager Pellegrino Matarazzo.
The breakdown occurred after Marseille and Real Sociedad had agreed on terms for a paid loan worth 3 million euros, which included a 17 million euro purchase option. Aguerd, who previously spent the 2024–25 season on loan at the Basque club from West Ham United, had already traveled to Spain and successfully passed his medical evaluations before stepping away from the agreement.
For Marseille, the sudden reversal creates an immediate hurdle. The club acquired Aguerd from West Ham for approximately 23 million euros in the summer of 2025, but his time in southern France has been heavily disrupted by fitness issues, including a pubis operation in March 2026 that kept him sidelined for an extended period.
Market Cools for Højbjerg as Marseille Weighs Options
Midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg faces a similar trajectory regarding his future in Ligue 1. According to analysis from Le Phocéen, the prospect of receiving a substantial, high-value transfer offer for the Danish international has diminished significantly.
Højbjerg had initially been designated as one of the primary candidates to exit Marseille this summer to ease the club’s wage structure and generate funds. However, with concrete and attractive bids lacking, club officials are increasingly leaning toward retaining the experienced midfielder to protect the sporting stability of Genesio’s squad.
Both Aguerd and Højbjerg now appear likely to stay in Marseille unless the market shifts dramatically in the final days of the window. The club continues to monitor alternative ways to trim expenses and comply with budgetary targets without sacrificing key personnel on unfavorable terms.
Financial Pressures and Upcoming Fixtures
The ongoing transfer complexities highlight broader challenges at Marseille, where financial scrutiny and squad management remain pressing topics. Manager Bruno Genesio acknowledged the necessity of lowering the club’s salary mass to facilitate future squad adjustments, leaving the front office with limited time to finalize moves before the window closes.
