Nigeria international Moses Simon, after six years with Nantes, will turn out for Paris FC from the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
The newly promoted side may have huge ambitions, but by virtue of their location, they are condemned to be in the shadow of more illustrious neighbours and current UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain.
However, if their signing of Moses Simon is anything to go by, the club stand a strong chance of making themselves a fixture in Ligue 1. They are certainly attracting some interest from Nigeria fans, so here is some useful information about Paris FC.
Paris FC: 6 facts about Moses Simon’s new club
46-year absence from Ligue 1
On May 2, 2025, Paris FC secured Their 1–1 draw at Martigues in May secured not only a second place finish in Ligue 2 behind Lorient, but also a return to Ligue 1 for the first time since 1979.
Their last spell in the top flight ended over four decades ago, during the 1978–79 season. Since then, they have been bounced around in the lower reaches of the French league pyramid. Until now.
🌟 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐒, 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐒, nous sommes en @Ligue1🔥🥹
🔝 𝐀 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐜𝐞𝐮𝐱 𝐪𝐮𝐢 𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐮 𝐞𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬, 𝐪𝐮𝐢 𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐬 : 𝐜𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞́𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐚 𝐯𝐨̂𝐭𝐫𝐞 💙
🔵⚪️ #CertifiéParis |… pic.twitter.com/uNoMKqYg1v
— Paris FC (@ParisFC) May 2, 2025
Founding member of PSG
Paris FC was established by action of the France Football Federation in 1969. Later that year, in order to get a placement in the league, they merged with the much older Stade Saint-Germain to become Paris Saint-Germain. Paris FC provided the funding, while Stade Saint-Germain provided the players, coach and slot in the second tier.
However, there was split just two years later, with Paris FC coming out with the advantage of a place in the top flight, while the other half kept the name PSG but was relegated to the third tier.
Noisy neighbours. Literally.
For the 2025/26 season, Paris FC will share the Ligue 1 stage with PSG, reviving the Paris derby for the first time since 1990. Their home matches will be played at Stade Jean‑Bouin, located a mere 20 to 50 meters from PSG’s Parc des Princes.
You would imagine this means Ligue 1 will not be scheduling simultaneous home matches; could you imagine the decibel levels?
Their home grounds were not always so close, however…
Blame it on Jurgen Klopp
The entire reason Paris FC will play their home games on PSG’s door step is that former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp decided to move the club away from their former ground. Stade Charléty, which used to host, contains a running track which can serve to dampen the atmosphere for home matches.
But what does Klopp have to do with a modest French club?
Owned by Red Bull and the world’s eighth-richest man
In November 2024, Red Bull acquired a minority stake (understood to be 10.6%) in the club, joining forces with the affluent Arnault family, who are majority owners with an estimated 52-55%.
The Red Bull group, which owns clubs in Germany, Austria, England and Brazil, to name a few, appointed Klopp as Head of Global Soccer two months later.
No big splash in the big time
Rather than shell out large sums to revamp their squad, the club management are opting for a more sustainable approach. The idea is to keep the bulk of their promotion squad, with 7-9 new signings, including Moses Simon, adding quality in key areas.
Their budget for the summer transfer window? €100 million.
