Marseille’s squad revamp under newly appointed manager Roberto De Zerbi is well underway, marked by key new signings aimed at strengthening the team. The latest addition to the squad is Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, who has landed in Marseille to finalize his move from Tottenham. The documents are set to be signed, and the transfer fee is reported to be around €14 million. Højbjerg, who was not keen on extending his contract with the Spurs, accepted the move after discussions with De Zerbi.
🚨🥇| Agreement reached between OM and #Tottenham for the transfer of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. €13.5M
He will join Marseille in the coming days.@Santi_J_FM pic.twitter.com/CQ17aoIc2o
— The Spurs Express (@TheSpursExpress) July 20, 2024
This transfer follows the high-profile signing of Mason Greenwood from Manchester United. Greenwood, who will don the number 10 jersey for Marseille, joined for a fixed fee of €26 million, with an additional €5 million in add-ons and a 50% sell-on clause for United. The deal was secured after weeks of negotiation, with Marseille’s president Pablo Longoria and sporting director Mehdi Benatia playing important roles. De Zerbi was also personally involved, reportedly calling Greenwood almost every day to ensure the deal was completed.
Marseille’s aggressive transfer strategy does not stop there. The club has also initiated negotiations with Arsenal for striker Eddie Nketiah. While no agreement has been reached yet, discussions between the clubs have started, indicating that Nketiah is one of the top targets following Greenwood and Højbjerg’s acquisitions.
De Zerbi, who took charge of Marseille about a month ago, is clearly intent on transforming the team. His vision for the squad is becoming evident with each new signing, as he aims to build a strong side capable of challenging Paris Saint-Germain. The ambitious moves in the transfer market reflect Marseille’s determination to support De Zerbi’s plans and show their intent to compete at the highest level.