Moussa Sissoko charged in major financial scandal at FC Nantes

Moussa Sissoko, who earned 71 caps for France and was a cornerstone of Didier Deschamps’ setup, has been charged with “forgery of public documents” as part of a sprawling judicial investigation shaking FC Nantes. The case, being handled by Rennes judge Jérémy Mouchette, concerns an alleged network of illegal sports agent activity, misappropriation of company assets, and organized money laundering.

At 37 years old and currently under contract with Panathinaïkos, the midfielder — who played for Toulouse, Newcastle, Tottenham and Watford — is directly implicated because of his ties to Bakari Sanogo, his uncle and longtime agent. The latter, who lacks a sports agent license in France, is suspected of operating within FC Nantes through intermediaries. It is precisely this family and professional link that places Sissoko at the heart of the case, covering his two seasons at Nantes (2022–2024).

Sissoko’s lawyer, Me Carole-Olivia Montenot, downplays the charge against her client: according to her, it concerns an administrative dispute over the drafting of supporting documents related to a private fund transfer between Sissoko and his uncle, with no direct connection to the transfer market or professional football.

The investigation extends far beyond Sissoko alone. According to judicial sources cited by L’Équipe, the financial arrangements used by FC Nantes in several transfers — notably those of Emiliano Sala, Guillaume Gillet, Alban Lafont and Lucas Evangelista — would be in “total contradiction” with the Sports Code. Between 2015 and 2021, the club allegedly paid €8.2 million to Bakari Sanogo via Joaquim Batica, suspected of serving as an intermediary. Investigators also suspect that certain “exceptional bonuses” awarded to players actually served to secretly pay Sanogo.

Beyond Sissoko, several other figures have been charged: FC Nantes as a legal entity, Franck Kita (the club’s chief executive), Bakari Sanogo, his partner Sylvie B., and Joaquim Batica. The charges are particularly serious: illegal practice of sports agent activity, forgery and use of forged documents, organized money laundering. The case comes three months after the club’s relegation to Ligue 2, adding a judicial crisis to an already fragile sporting situation.