Serge Aurier ‘in line to join seventh-tier club’ aged 33 – two years after Premier League exit

Serge Aurier is reportedly in talks to join a club in the seventh-tier of French football.

The right-back has been a free agent since leaving Iranian side Persepolis last month.

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It had since been speculated that Aurier had retired from football aged 33 having moved into coaching.

He has been coaching in the academy of boyhood club Lens for the last month.

Aurier in talks with amateur club

However, according to French newspaper La Voix du Nord, a return to the pitch now appears imminent.

Aurier is said to have been in talks with FC Montigny-en-Gohelle, who are based in the Hauts-de-France region.

Meanwhile, the club is located less than 10km from Lens’ Stade Bollaert-Delelis home.

It is understood Aurier has accepted their offer but is awaiting clearance following his exit from Persepolis in August.

The former Ivory Coast international is set to have his work cut out upon joining the first-team, though.

Montigny-en-Gohelle suffered a 10-0 home defeat to Biache-Saint-Vaast on Sunday.

Aurier’s career to date

Aurier would bring a wealth of experience to the side thanks to a career spanning Europe and Asia.

After progressing through Lens’ academy, he had spells with Toulouse and Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1.

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The defender moved to the Premier League in 2017, joining Tottenham Hotspur, where he would spend four years.

During that time, Aurier was part of the side which reached the 2019 Champions League final.

After leaving Spurs, Aurier had a brief spell with Villarreal before returning to England to sign for Nottingham Forest.

Across his time with Spurs and Forest, he made 113 Premier League appearances, scoring six goals and adding 14 assists.

Prior to joining Persepolis last summer, Aurier had a five-month stint at Galatasaray in 2024.

At international level, the last of his 93 caps for the Ivory Coast came in the final of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

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Aurier captained the side as they beat Nigeria to lift the trophy on home soil, the second AFCON triumph of his career.

He has also won league titles in both France and Turkey, with a total of 14 club honours to his name.