OM transfer window — Ordóñez, the missed deal OM have promised not to forget

OM pushed until the very end

The name Joel Ordóñez, the 21-year-old Ecuadorian defender from Club Bruges, was on everyone’s lips at La Commanderie this summer. Pablo Longoria and Mehdi Benatia pulled out all the stops in the final hours of the transfer window, negotiating hard to bring him in. But Bruges never budged, refusing to let their young talent go despite Marseille’s persistence.

A promise for the winter

Even so, Ordóñez’s camp has been reassured: the story isn’t over. OM has promised to come back in the January window. That commitment explains why the club shifted focus at the last moment toward a more experienced profile — Benjamin Pavard. But far from abandoning the Ordóñez track, the club has simply pressed pause.

🔵🇪🇨 Concernant Ordonez, sachez que la direction jusqu'à hier après midi à tout fait pour essayé de l'arracher a Bruges en https://t.co/p6g5F2Bu2t direction a rassuré le clan Ordonez et notamment qu'ils reviendront à la charge cet hiver, ce qui explique le deal de Pavard #TeamOM pic.twitter.com/pPzRwtQQSb

— 💙𝓚𝓞𝓑𝓘 ①③🤍⭐ (@kobi_OM) September 1, 2025

Pavard as the immediate fix

In the meantime, Marseille struck a huge blow by bringing in Benjamin Pavard, the 2018 World Cup winner on loan from Inter with an option to buy. At 29, Pavard brings experience and leadership, where Ordóñez would have represented the long-term bet. For Roberto De Zerbi, Pavard is the defensive leader ready to perform right now, while the Ecuadorian remains a potential addition for the future.

A defense both strong and forward-looking

With Aguerd, Pavard, Medina, Balerdi, Emerson, and Egan-Riley, De Zerbi now has depth and quality in defense. But the insistence on keeping the Ordóñez option alive shows OM’s broader vision: blending experience with youth, immediate solidity with investment in the future. The January window could very well bring the saga back to life.

Conclusion — A postponed story

OM’s summer ended without Joel Ordóñez, but not without hope. The club has promised not to forget him and intends to return in January. For now, Pavard takes center stage and reassures the defense. But supporters know one thing: at Marseille, transfer stories rarely end — they play out in several acts. To be continued this winter. Allez l’OM!