According to insider Mohamed Toubache-Ter, OM are expected to promote Ibrahim Gomis, a U20 world champion with Morocco, to second-choice goalkeeper from January. According to Sport.fr, the club would not be interested in a return for Simon Ngapandouetnbu, currently at Montpellier.
Olympique de Marseille are preparing an internal promotion. According to transfer insider Mohamed Toubache-Ter, relayed by Sport.fr, Ibrahim Gomis is expected to be elevated to the role of the club’s second-choice goalkeeper from January. The decision would concern a 21-year-old goalkeeper who currently plays for the Marseille reserve team and is a U20 world champion with Morocco.
The information remains unofficial. It does, however, sketch out a goalkeeping hierarchy at the Phocaean club, where goalkeeper Jeffrey de Lange has established himself as number one since Gerónimo Rulli’s departure to Manchester City. According to Sport.fr, OM would not be interested in a return for Simon Ngapandouetnbu, contrary to some recent reports.
De Lange established, the succession is being prepared
Since Gerónimo Rulli’s transfer to Manchester City, Jeffrey de Lange has been keeping goal for Marseille. Behind him, OM head coach Bruno Genesio essentially has Théo Vermot and young Belgian Jelle Van Neck at his disposal, according to Sport.fr.
It is against this backdrop that Ibrahim Gomis’s promotion would take shape. The 21-year-old goalkeeper, under contract with OM until June 2028, plays for the reserve team. His promotion would allow Marseille to rely on a club youngster while limiting spending in upcoming transfer windows, again according to Sport.fr.
The timeline put forward by Mohamed Toubache-Ter places this promotion in January. Gomis would thus become the second-choice goalkeeper, behind De Lange and ahead of Théo Vermot and Jelle Van Neck.
Ngapandouetnbu, the option ruled out
Simon Ngapandouetnbu, for his part, is continuing his season away from Marseille. The 23-year-old Cameroonian goalkeeper is putting in good performances with Montpellier in Ligue 2, according to Sport.fr. Several recent reports had, however, suggested a return to Marseille.
Those reports would find no echo on the Marseille side: OM would not be interested in a return for the Cameroonian, according to the same source. At Montpellier, the question is framed differently: Ngapandouetnbu is discussing a contract extension with MHSC, and the talks are considered positive.
And what about summer 2027?
The question of the number one spot remains open in the medium term. Jeffrey de Lange’s contract expires in June 2027, which could push Marseille to sign a new number one next summer, again according to Sport.fr. Gomis’s promotion would then be part of a broader management of the position.
Until then, the decision on Simon Ngapandouetnbu’s extension with Montpellier will be the other deadline to watch. Ibrahim Gomis’s promotion, for its part, is expected in January 2027, if Mohamed Toubache-Ter’s tip proves correct.