Nicolas Pays
Nicolas Pays 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.