Official | Saint-Etienne complete Niels Nkounkou and Kader Bamba loans | OneFootball

Ligue 2’s bottom-placed side AS Saint-Etienne have announced the loan deals of Everton’s French left-back Niels Nkounkou (22) with an option to buy and FC Nantes’ winger Kader Bamba (28) with no option to buy. Relegated last season from Ligue 1 after a playoff against Auxerre, Saint-Etienne have dipped into the market as they seek to revitalise their troubled season, just as it nears its halfway point. Goalkeeper Gautier Larsonneur (25), right-back Dennis Appiah (30) and forward Gaëtan Charbonnier (34) have all joined Les Verts this winter transfer window.

Now, Saint-Etienne have agreed two more loan deals. Out-of-favour Nantes winger Bamba returns to France’s second division, where he previously played for Amiens SC on loan last season. The Sarcelles-born player only played four games with Les Canaris this season and will wear the #20 jersey with the struggling Laurent Batlles-led side on his six-month loan.

22-year-old French left-back Niels Nkounkou is the latest player to join the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard outfit. Previously on loan at Championship side Cardiff City, the former Marseille defender (2017-2020) has been recalled by Everton and loaned back to Saint-Etienne with an option to buy. The Pontoise-born player will wear the #27 jersey with the Loire side.