Martin Terrier set for Ligue 1 return: loan from Bayer Leverkusen to OM taking shape

Olympique de Marseille has a serious lead to strengthen its attack: Martin Terrier, 29, under contract with Bayer Leverkusen until 2029, would be open to a return to France and specifically to Marseille, according to Le Phocéen. A loan is being considered, with all options remaining open at this stage.

OM is operating this summer within a constrained financial framework. The Direction nationale du contrôle de gestion (DNCG) announced two weeks ago a cap on the club’s wage bill and transfer fees. To navigate these restricted waters, Marseille has entrusted its sporting direction to Grégory Lorenzi, architect of Stade Brestois’s cost-effective successes over a decade. On the bench, Bruno Genesio was officially appointed last week.

It is precisely Genesio’s presence that makes this deal credible. The Marseille manager has already worked with Terrier at Olympique Lyonnais and then at Stade Rennais, where he managed to get the best out of the northern striker. The two men share an established relationship of trust, and both Lorenzi and Genesio appear to agree on the profile to target.

Terrier arrives, however, with a medical file to monitor. In January 2025, he suffered a right Achilles tendon tear that kept him sidelined for several months. Before this injury, he had scored five goals in 24 matches with Bayer Leverkusen in the previous season. Valued at 8 million euros on Transfermarkt, the former U-21 international — once pre-called up to the France A squad — represents an accessible option for a club that must recruit wisely.