IN FOCUS: Monaco seeking inspiration from Sunderland loanee Adingra

Simon Adingra, the winger who could spark a revival at AS Monaco?

Having arrived this winter on loan from Sunderland, Ivorian winger Simon Adingra wasted no time in winning over the Stade Louis-II crowd. Thanks to his tactical versatility and immediate impact, he’s already established himself as S9bastien Pocognoli’s key asset to cover for absences and drive Monaco’s ambitions, especially in the Champions League.

The winter transfer window is often described as a “repair market.” For AS Monaco, facing tighter finances than in previous years and the blow of Takumi Minamino’s serious injury at the end of December, the situation looked tough to solve. Yet, by bringing in Simon Adingra in the final hours of the window, the Principality club seems to have pulled off a masterstroke.

On loan from Sunderland with a €17 million purchase option, the 24-year-old winger didn’t need any time to settle in. In his first start against Nantes (3-1), the Ivorian lit up the match with a brace. His dribbling and flair instantly won over Monaco fans, who haven’t had much to cheer about lately—ASM have managed just 3 wins in 11 matches across all competitions in 2026.

For S9bastien Pocognoli, ASM’s coach, signing Adingra was a top priority: “His versatility is his number one asset. When his name came up, I immediately said he was very interesting, because he can play on the right, on the left, as a supporting forward, or as a wing-back.”

Yet, Adingra’s start to the season in England was far from his usual standards. Under R9gis Le Bris at Sunderland, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations winner was left frustrated (just 15 games, 1 goal). This lack of playing time even cost him his spot in the Ivory Coast squad, as he hasn’t been called up by Emerse Fa9 since last October and a 3-0 win over Kenya—even though he was named “man of the match” in the Elephants’ victorious final.

He came to the Principality to “regain his confidence”, and Adingra makes no secret of his ambitions: to shine with Monaco and earn a ticket to the next World Cup. His national team coach has endorsed this career move. “I just need more games, to play, and a bit of confidence—that’s all!” he says.

The Monaco squad has already welcomed him with open arms. He previously played alongside Ansu Fati at Brighton, where he made 73 appearances. And for captain Denis Zakaria, who is “very happy” with his arrival, Monaco have signed “a fantastic player, very professional and very dynamic.” “We’re going to need him, and he’ll help us a lot this season,” the Swiss international adds. “The mentality he’s shown has been really important,” emphasizes club CEO Thiago Scuro.

After making his Champions League debut against Paris Saint-Germain in a high-intensity first-leg playoff (playing 70 minutes), Adingra now faces the challenge of taking on Lens, the current Ligue 1 leaders. Against a Lens side known for their relentless style, Adingra’s profile will be crucial. Pocognoli is already expecting a game full of transitions: “Against Paris, we were sometimes too direct. At Lens, there will probably be more transitions. We’ll need to show real team spirit.”

The trip to Lens this Saturday (5:00 pm) is part of a “hellish week” for ASM, sandwiched between the two legs against PSG. In the electric atmosphere of Bollaert, Adingra’s ability to beat his marker one-on-one could be the key for Monaco. If he can repeat his performance against Nantes when facing the league’s best defense, the €17 million purchase option will quickly look like a bargain.