Baptiste Santamaria (29) is now an Aiglon. The midfielder arrives from Stade Rennais on loan with an option to buy.

"I'm very happy to be joining OGC Nice," enthused the player who played 236 top flight games (six goals) for Angers SCO (149) and Rennes (127), where he signed in 2021 after a spell at Freiburg in the Bundesliga (33 games in 2020-21). Santamaria continued: "My legs are tingling. I feel ready, operational and fit. I can't wait to play. I was convinced by what Nice's directors and Franck Haise had to say, and we quickly came to an agreement. I know that the club is very ambitious. They've had a good start to the season and they've got some great challenges ahead of them. I'm proud to be part of the adventure."

Florian Maurice (Sporting Director of OGC Nice), who was also behind the player's move to Stade Rennais, was clear in his desire to bring Santmaaria to the club. "I didn't hesitate for a second before starting discussions with Baptiste. From the outset, the Chairman, the Managing Director, the coach and I were all of one mind. The winter transfer window is for making adjustments. We had a lot of injuries in midfield in the first half of the season and we needed to fortify that area. Baptiste has experience, work rate and quality. He's a top-level player who needs a new challenge and, importantly, he's in top physical condition."

"We never do things just to do them," conclude club president Jean-Pierre Rivère. "From a sporting and human point of view, the player must meet all the criteria we are looking for. That's the case with Baptiste. We know that we're not taking any risks with him and that he'll quickly add value to the team. I'd like to wish him a warm welcome!"
 

Baptiste Santamaria came up through the academy at Tours, before making his professional debut with the club (100 games and 14 goals between 2013 and 2016). He will be eligible to play against OM this Sunday.

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