Mali international Lassine Sinayoko has left AJ Auxerre after nearly a decade to join Paris FC on a four-year deal, bringing an emotional close to a long association with the Burgundy club.
The 26-year-old forward, who had pushed to secure a move this summer, will now continue his career in the French capital with a club presenting what is described as a highly ambitious project.
Paris FC, currently in Ligue 2 but with clear aspirations to reach the top flight, confirmed the signing as part of a wider recruitment drive aimed at strengthening their promotion bid.
Sinayoko, who came through the Auxerre system and made his professional breakthrough there, used his social media channels to bid farewell in a heartfelt message that has drawn a strong reaction from supporters.
‘Time to open a new chapter’
“Apres presque 10 annees passees sous les couleurs de l’AJ Auxerre, le moment est venu pour moi d’ouvrir un nouveau chapitre,” Sinayoko wrote, reflecting on the length and depth of his connection with the club.
He spoke of the difficulty of encapsulating what Auxerre means to him, emphasising that the club shaped him both on and off the pitch.
“Il est difficile de trouver les mots pour resumer tout ce que ce club represente a mes yeux. J’y ai grandi en tant que joueur, mais surtout en tant qu’homme. J’y ai vecu des moments inoubliables, des joies immenses, des defis, des victoires et des emotions qui resteront graves a jamais,” he said.
His departure marks the end of a formative era at Auxerre, where he evolved from a promising youth player into a senior international for Mali. The move to Paris FC is widely seen as a step into a new environment with heightened expectations and a clear upward trajectory.
Tribute to club staff and fans
In his farewell message, Sinayoko made a point of thanking every layer of the Auxerre organisation.
“Je tiens a adresser un immense merci a l’ensemble du club : aux dirigeants, aux entraineurs qui m’ont fait confiance, au staff technique, medical et administratif, ainsi qu’a toutes les personnes qui œuvrent chaque jour, souvent dans l’ombre, pour faire vivre cette grande institution,” he wrote.
He reserved special praise for the club’s supporters, whom he credited with sustaining him through both highs and lows.
“Un merci tout particulier aux supporters. Votre passion, votre fidelite et votre soutien, dans les bons comme dans les moments plus difficiles, m’ont porte tout au long de ces annees. Porter ce maillot devant vous a ete un honneur et une immense fierte.”
The message, widely shared among Auxerre fans, underlined the emotional dimension of the move and the bond forged between player and club over almost 10 years.
Ambitious project in the capital
Paris FC have not yet disclosed full financial details of the transfer, but Sinayoko’s four-year contract signals a long-term commitment on both sides.
The Malian forward joins a club that has made no secret of its ambition to compete at the highest level of French football. The move offers him a fresh platform in a major European capital, with increased visibility and the opportunity to play a leading role in an upwardly mobile side.
For Auxerre, the departure represents the loss of a home-grown figure who embodied the club’s identity over much of the past decade. For Sinayoko, it is the start of what he describes as a “new chapter” – one that will now unfold in Paris, but built on foundations laid during his years in Auxerre’s colours.
