Loni Laurent

Loni Laurent's path to Ligue 2 ran through the French lower divisions rather than an academy fast track. Formed at Olympique de Valence, the centre-back made his senior debut there in 2021 before moving on a free transfer to Marignane Gignac. It was at Marignane, in the National, that he made his name: in the 2023/2024 season he started 29 of the club's 31 league matches.

Rodez Aveyron Football moved for him first that summer, announcing his signing on 25 June 2024 as their opening recruit for the new season, again on a free transfer. The following season he remained a fixture at the back as the club improved to fifth place and reached the promotion play-offs, known in France as the barrages, before losing to Saint-Étienne in the semi-finals.

Laurent's game has been built on availability and reliability rather than end product: he has yet to score or register an assist in Ligue 2, and has picked up just a single yellow card in the competition. He has not been called up by France at any youth or senior level, and his career so far has been a steady climb through the lower tiers without the weight of a transfer fee attached to any of his moves.