Nayef Aguerd’s proposed move to Real Sociedad collapsed after Marseille refused to budge on their valuation, ending weeks of on-off talks. Despite reported verbal agreements and a near-complete deal, Marseille’s strong contractual position left little room for negotiation. Aguerd has since reaffirmed his commitment to the club, insisting his focus remains on delivering for his teammates and supporters. The full details behind why the deal fell apart reveal more about what happened next.
Nayef Aguerd came close to leaving Marseille this summer, but the move never got over the line. Real Sociedad opened talks with Marseille in early August 2026, hoping to bring the defender back to San Sebastián on a loan with a purchase option. The Spanish club had worked with Aguerd before, and the player was reportedly open to a return from the start.
Real Sociedad reached out early, eager for a reunion with Aguerd—but Marseille never let the deal cross the finish line.
The numbers, though, kept shifting. Some reports described a €2.5 million loan fee with a mandatory €10 million option to buy, while others mentioned a €4 million loan and an €11 million option, or figures closer to €3 million and €17 million. Regardless of the exact structure, Marseille felt the early proposals fell short of what they wanted, and they rejected Real Sociedad’s opening package outright.
Talks continued, and at one stage the two clubs appeared to reach a verbal agreement. Aguerd had reportedly given his initial approval to the switch, and some accounts even suggested a five-year contract had been agreed in principle with Real Sociedad. There was also talk of a medical and a deal nearing completion. But the process stalled again, with Marseille apparently still unsatisfied with the valuation and payment terms on offer.
Marseille held a strong hand throughout. Aguerd, 30, joined the club from West Ham United for a reported €23 million and is under contract until 2030. That long deal gave Marseille little incentive to accept a discounted fee, especially for a player they see as valuable to their squad. Aguerd has long been regarded as central to Morocco’s defensive rise as a national team, a reputation that only strengthened his standing in Marseille’s plans.
In the end, the transfer collapsed at the final stage. Rather than pushing for a fresh approach, Aguerd chose to move forward with Marseille. He publicly reaffirmed his commitment to the club, saying he would continue giving his full effort for his teammates, the supporters, and the shirt.
His message was clear: for now, his future is with Marseille. The door has not necessarily been closed to future interest before the transfer window shuts, but as things stand, Aguerd remains focused on his current club, leaving the Real Sociedad reunion as a deal that came close but ultimately did not happen.
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