DR Congo defender Axel Tuanzebe is close to joining French club Auxerre after arriving in Burgundy to undergo a medical examination.
The 28-year-old centre-back is a free agent following the end of his contract with Burnley and has emerged as a major target for Auxerre, who are looking to strengthen their defence.
Tuanzebe arrived in France on Tuesday for his medical tests and is expected to complete his move to Auxerre if there are no problems with the examination.
The potential transfer would see the experienced defender move to Ligue 1 after spending much of his career in English football.
Auxerre are understood to have made significant progress in their pursuit of the player, with Le Parisien reporting that negotiations for the Congolese international are advancing.
The French club would be able to sign Tuanzebe without paying a transfer fee because he became available following his departure from Burnley.
Tuanzebe can operate both as a central defender and at right-back, giving Auxerre an additional option in defence.
He made 16 appearances for Burnley last season, including 14 Premier League matches. He scored once and accumulated 1,202 minutes of playing time, although injuries restricted his involvement during the campaign.
His arrival would bring considerable experience to Auxerre. Tuanzebe began his professional career at Manchester United, where he made 37 senior appearances.
He subsequently spent time at Aston Villa, having three loan spells with the club, before continuing his career with Napoli, Stoke City, Ipswich Town and Burnley.
Italian side Lazio were also interested in signing the defender during the current transfer window, but Auxerre are now close to securing his services.
A move to France would also place Tuanzebe alongside several other Congolese internationals at Auxerre, while giving him the opportunity to continue his career in a new league.
His recent international experience could prove particularly valuable.
Tuanzebe was one of DR Congo’s key players at the 2026 World Cup, starting all four of the Leopards’ matches and playing every minute of their campaign.
He accumulated 360 minutes at the tournament and was an undisputed member of the side that reached the round of 32.
DR Congo’s World Cup campaign eventually ended with a 2-1 defeat by England, but Tuanzebe had already played a significant role in helping his country reach the tournament.
He scored the decisive goal against Jamaica, a result that secured DR Congo’s qualification for their first World Cup since 1974.
That tournament experience adds another dimension to a player who has spent years competing in the English game.
