Nigerian striker Terem Moffi is set to return to OGC Nice after FC Porto decided not to activate their €8 million option to make his loan move permanent, bringing an underwhelming spell in Portugal to an end.
Moffi joined Porto during the winter transfer window in a bid to revive a season that had already proved difficult in France, but the move has failed to deliver the expected turnaround in form or impact.
Despite FC Porto going on to secure the league title, the Portuguese club have opted against keeping the 27-year-old forward beyond the end of his loan agreement.
According to information from L’Équipe, Porto’s management has now made its decision, concluding that the Nigerian international will not remain at the club.
The striker’s time in Portugal was intended as a fresh start, offering him an opportunity to regain confidence and regular playing time under a familiar tactical environment.
Porto coach Francesco Farioli, who previously worked in Ligue 1 and is well aware of OGC Nice, was seen as a manager who could potentially unlock Moffi’s form.
However, that expected resurgence did not materialise.
Across 15 appearances for the Portuguese side, Moffi managed just two goals and struggled to establish himself as a consistent attacking threat.
His difficulties in Portugal came after an already challenging first half of the season at Nice, where his form had also dipped.
The situation was further complicated by an incident on November 30, during unrest involving the Nice squad upon their arrival by team bus, adding to a turbulent period for the striker both on and off the pitch.
The loan move to Porto was widely viewed as a chance for a reset, but instead it has become another difficult chapter in a season marked by inconsistency and interruptions.
With the striker now set to return to the French Riviera, attention will quickly turn to his future at Nice.
Moffi has just one year remaining on his contract, placing the Ligue 1 club under pressure to make a decision regarding his long-term status.
Club officials are now expected to consider a potential transfer in order to avoid the risk of losing the player on a free deal in 2027.
That situation could prompt Nice to explore offers during the upcoming transfer window as they look to resolve his future.
