Field Insider
WingerFranceLigue 2

Nicolas Pays

Key starterMontpellier · 23 yrsStarter
63.4
±0%
Ratingi
23.1
±0%
Seasoni
23.7
Valuei

based on the 2025/26 season · updated 18 Aug 2026

Profile

Full nameNicolas Pays
PositionWinger
NationalityFrance
Age23
Date of birth7 Jul 2003
Height180 cm
Shirt number#18
ClubMontpellier
More about N. Pays →
Winger

Season stats

Full career & schedule →
9
Appearances
3
Goals
0
Assists
802
Minutes

Domestic-league season · Montpellier.

Performance data · by competition

CompetitionAppsGAMinMatch
Ligue 2100906.9

Scout report

Key starterWinger

N. Pays is a 23-year-old winger at Montpellier, rated 63.4 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 17th of 128 on scout potential in the Ligue 2. An emerging talent, he has been a regular starter this season (76.2% of available minutes). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Pays.

Judged on this season alone, Pays graded 23 — a strong campaign that ranks top 20% of the 5 wingers in the Ligue 2, on 4 goals and 1 assist in 30 appearances (0.193 involvements per 90).

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 23 → 23). Over the 3 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2025/26.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 63, top 20% of the 5 wingers in the Ligue 2. At 23 Pays is still climbing toward his ceiling, and a market index of 23.7 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report
Read the full career report →

A career still climbing — Pays is at his peak right now, and the curve hasn't flattened.

Peak: 2025/26Trending upBreakout: 2025/26
Current potentialTop 20% wingers · Ligue 2Current seasonTop 20% wingers · Ligue 21st-best winger in the Ligue 217th in the Ligue 2 · potential1st-highest potential winger in the Ligue 2
63.4
Ratingi
1st of 5 wingers
23.1
Seasoni
below regular-starter level
76.2%
Minutes
a regular starter
0.19
Goal contrib / 90
modest end product

Output in context · Montpellier finished 8th of 18 · a mid-table side

30
Apps
4
Goals
1
Assists
5
G+A
0.13
Goals / app

4 goals in 30 appearances (0.13 per game) — light end product the role wants to see climb. Add 1 assist for 5 goal contributions in all.

Strengths

  • Availability. On the pitch for 76.2% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.

Watch points

  • Output. 0.19 contributions per 90 is light for an attacking role — end product needs to climb.

Outlook

With a Rating of 63.4, Pays carries the 1st-highest potential of the wingers in the Ligue 2 (top 20%). In the final third he profiles as a work-in-progress on end product (0.19 goal contributions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 2×) with the best seasons likely ahead. With this floor already at 23, the ceiling gets tested by a step up in level — one to track.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among wingers in the Ligue 2 with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals4—

Passing

Assists1—

Defending

Tackles34—
Interceptions12—
Blocks1—

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards3
Red cards0

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.