Clermont Foot sporting director Karim Fradin has branded as “fake news” the rumour that Andy Pelmard will be released in January. The defender, a Madagascar international, is under contract until June 2027 and the club has no plans to terminate his deal.
On 10 November, transfer journalist Sacha Tavolieri claimed on X that Clermont Foot intended to part with Andy Pelmard as early as January, in the form of a free departure. According to him, the club would no longer be able to cover the salary of the 26-year-old defender, and the player had been informed by his management.
A claim denied by the club
Sacha Tavolieri’s report, picked up by Foot National and OneFootball, painted a precise picture: Clermont could part with Pelmard as early as January, unable to cover his salary, and their sporting director would have informed the player of the situation. The club has rejected that information.
Asked by La Montagne, Karim Fradin called the information “fake news”. Foot National reports that the club does not plan to terminate the contract of the Madagascar international (3 caps), which runs until June 2027.
The matter is not closed, however. Foot National notes that Pelmard could be put back on the market in January, as at every transfer window since the club’s relegation to Ligue 2. The defender earns the highest salary in the Clermont squad, a factor likely to weigh on the club’s thinking.
A career built on loans and a contract running down
Signed from Nice in Clermont’s final Ligue 1 season (2023-2024), Andy Pelmard then went out on a run of loans at Lecce, Las Palmas and Bialystok in Poland. His contract runs until June 2027.
Six months before the end of his deal, he will be free to negotiate a free transfer for the summer with the club of his choice, Foot National recalls.
A denial that sets the terms
Karim Fradin’s denial does not rule out a departure, but it sets the terms: no contract termination at this stage. The winter transfer window remains the date to watch for the defender.
Polish club Lech Poznań are reportedly monitoring the player’s situation, according to FootballDatabase.