Nicolas Pays (born 7 July 2003) is a French professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for club Montpellier.
Career Born in Le Puy-en-Velay, Pays grew up in the nearby commune of Blavozy, where he played for local team US Blavozy. In 2015, he signed for Le Puy, before joining the academy of Clermont in 2018. He went on to play for Clermont's reserve side in the Championnat National 3 prior to returning to his hometown club US Blavozy for the 2022–23 Régional 1 season. In 2023, Pays returned to Championnat National 2 club Le Puy.
On 21 December 2024, in the round of 64 of the Coupe de France, Pays scored in a 4–0 Le Puy victory over Ligue 1 club Montpellier. His performance impressed Montpellier head coach Jean-Louis Gasset. On 29 January 2025, Pays signed for Montpellier for no transfer fee. He made his Montpellier and Ligue 1 debut as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat away to Strasbourg on 9 February 2025.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsClermont B2021–22National 381———81Le Puy2023–24CFA 221572——2872024–25CFA 215363——216Total368135——4913Montpellier2024–25Ligue 190———90Career total53913500006614
Honours US Blavozy
Coupe de la Haute-Loire: 2022–23
References