RC Lens has confirmed the signing of French winger Florian Thauvin from Udinese, bringing the 32-year-old back to Ligue 1 four years after he last played in the division. The club announced the deal on 8 August, describing Thauvin’s arrival as a significant addition to Franck Haise’s attacking options ahead of the new season. Thauvin, a 2018 World Cup winner with France, left Olympique de Marseille in 2021 to join the Italian side but struggled to recapture the form that previously made him one of Ligue 1’s leading scorers. His return is expected to bolster Lens’s push for a top-four finish after the club narrowly missed out on European qualification last season.