Real Sociedad joins the fight for Zézé

Real Sociedad

The Real Sociedad have added a new name to their list of targets to reinforce the heart of their defense. The chosen one is Nathan Zézé, a 21-year-old French centre-back who could leave the Neom SC just one season after arriving in Saudi Arabia.

Pellegrino Matarazzo wants to have a left-footed centre-back to bring balance to his back three and improve the build-up play down the left flank. It is a shortcoming the squad has carried over from the previous campaign, and the sporting directorate aims to fix before the transfer window closes.

Zézé fits that profile perfectly. With a height of 1.90 metres, youth and room to grow, the Frenchman made the move to the Neom SC in the summer of 2025 after becoming the most expensive sale in Nantes' history, with the club banking 20 million euros for his transfer. However, the complicated financial situation the Saudi club is going through could make an exit this summer easier.

Other teams interested

The Real Sociedad are not the only side keeping tabs on the defender. The Inter Milan and Al Hilal have also shown interest, while in the Premier League Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Everton remain alert to any developments.

The name of Zézé joins others that have been on the sporting directorate's agenda over the past few weeks. Options such as Sead Kolasinac, Marcos Senesi or Diogo Leite had appeared earlier, although none ever really took shape. Unlike those cases, the Frenchman represents a bet for the future, with a high transfer cost, but also with significant potential to increase in value.

The competition is set to be fierce, and the financial muscle of several of their rivals works against Real Sociedad. Even so, the club from San Sebastián keeps the young centre-back among its priorities and will continue to monitor the progress of a deal that promises to be hotly contested in this stage of the window.