Sorba Thomas joins Nantes on season-long loan with option to buy

The Huddersfield Town winger will spend the season in France's top tier in a move that could become permanent

Sorba Thomas has made the switch from League One to Ligue 1 after joining FC Nantes on a season-long loan that the French club have the option to make into a permanent move.

Thomas joined Town from non-league Boreham Wood in January 2021. He went on to be a key player in the side’s run to the 2022 play-off final, claiming three goals and 12 assists and earning himself a place in Rob Page’s Wales squad.

The winger fell out with then-head coach Mark Fotheringham the following season and was sent out on loan to Blackburn Rovers for the second half of the campaign.

Thomas returned to the fold last season and contributed four goals and nine assists in Town’s unsuccessful battle against relegation, but faced public criticism from then-gaffer Andre Breitenreiter before being dropped after Town’s relegation was all but confirmed.

We understand Thomas has posed no issues to current boss Michael Duff this summer, however. He has also been involved in Town’s summer friendlies, including playing the first 45 minutes in the 2-1 victory over Hertha Berlin on Thursday afternoon before departing the camp to head to France ahead of his move.

Duff confirmed in a club statement, saying: “Sorba’s attitude has been first class in the time I’ve spent with him, and even with rumours swirling around his future, he’s trained well and worked hard to improve. I can’t ask anything more than that as a head coach, especially as we knew the likelihood of him moving on this summer.

“We’ve known that this news was on the cards for some time, which has helped us train and prepare accordingly. A move that is in the best interest of everyone concerned, it has created new opportunities for others in our squad to step up and make that place their own, which is exciting with one more tough pre-season game to come.”

The opportunity to play in one of Europe’s big five leagues will have been very attractive to Thomas, while a potential future fee has enticed Town into sanctioning the move.

If that option to buy is not triggered then Thomas would return to Town next summer with another two years still left to run on his contract.

Sporting director Mark Cartwright explained in a club statement: “Sorba has been misunderstood in the past: there’s an idea of him that’s prevalent which isn’t a fair reflection of who he is.

“By giving him the opportunity to play in a top five league in the world abroad, he has the chance to explore a new challenge, to concentrate on his game and remind people of what he’s capable of on the pitch.

“Having signed a long-term deal with the club, he still has several years remaining on his contract with us. While we have worked with him to find a move this summer knowing it was in our collective best interests, having seen him improve so much since joining us and become an international footballer, we continue to value him extremely highly.

“Everyone at the club wishes Sorba all the best for his loan with Nantes, and we’ll be watching on with a keen eye.”

FC Nantes finished 14th in Ligue 1 last season, avoiding relegation by four points. They had been looking for more creativity after scoring just 30 goals in their 34 league games.

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We Are Terriers reaction

Thomas’ exit is not a major surprise following Town’s relegation to the third tier, despite the fact that he has remained in the fold since Duff’s arrival.