Valentin Rosier
Valentin André Henri Rosier (born 19 August 1996) is a French professional footballer who plays as a right-back for La Liga club CA Osasuna.[1] Standing at 1.75 meters tall and right-footed, he is known for his defensive solidity and contributions in attack from the flank.[1] Rosier began his senior career with Rodez AF in the French fourth tier during the 2015–16 season, making his professional debut there before transferring to Ligue 1 side Dijon FCO in 2016.[2][3] Over three seasons with Dijon, he accumulated 57 appearances and 0 goals in Ligue 1, establishing himself as a reliable starter.[2] In 2019, he joined Sporting CP in Portugal's Primeira Liga, where he featured in 14 matches across all competitions during the 2019–20 season.[2][3] In October 2020, Rosier signed with Turkish club Beşiktaş, where he spent the next four years, playing 126 matches and scoring 6 goals while helping the team win the Süper Lig title in the 2020–21 season.[2][4] After a brief loan to OGC Nice in Ligue 1 during the 2023–24 season, he moved to CD Leganés in La Liga for 2024–25, appearing in 32 league games with 1 goal.[2][1] In July 2025, Rosier joined CA Osasuna on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract until June 2028, and has since made 8 appearances in the 2025–26 La Liga season with 0 goals (as of 17 November 2025).[1][2] Rosier has no senior international caps for France but developed through the country's youth system.[1][4]Early life and youth career
Upbringing and family background
Valentin André Henri Rosier was born on 19 August 1996 in Montauban, in the Tarn-et-Garonne department of southern France.[1] Rosier hails from a family of mixed Guadeloupean, Malagasy, and Italian descent, with his mother Véronique working as a secretary and his father named Tonio.[5][6] His parents divorced during his early adolescence, after which he lived with his mother in a modest apartment supported by social aid, while maintaining an improved relationship with his father over time.[6] He received strong familial encouragement from his grandparents, André and Rose, who regularly attended his early matches and provided emotional support during challenging periods.[6] Rosier's upbringing in Montauban was shaped by socioeconomic modesties and personal determination; he struggled with school discipline, ultimately dropping out at age 17 without a diploma, driven by a desire to alleviate his mother's financial burdens through his budding football career.[6] A key non-football influence from his childhood was his repeated viewing of the 1998 FIFA World Cup final between France and Brazil, which instilled a deep admiration for the sport and resilience in the face of adversity.[6] Standing at 1.75 meters tall and naturally right-footed, Rosier's physical attributes complemented his early development in the region.[1]Youth development and early training
Valentin Rosier began his youth football journey in 2002 at FC Albiassain, a local club in the Tarn-et-Garonne region, where he developed foundational skills until 2005.[1] He moved to Montauban FC TG in 2005 at age nine, spending four years there until 2009, during which he participated in the Coupe Nationale at age 13, marking an early highlight in regional youth competitions.[7][1] This period in Montauban, supported by his local upbringing, laid the groundwork for his technical abilities in a competitive regional environment.[8] In 2009, Rosier advanced to Toulouse FC's youth academy for the U14 and U15 National levels, training from 2009 to 2011 in a more structured professional setup.[1] However, seeking greater playing opportunities, he left Toulouse after two years, briefly joining FC Terrasses du Tarn for the 2011–2012 season to continue honing his skills in regional youth leagues.[1] This transitional phase emphasized consistent match exposure over elite academy immersion. Rosier's pivotal move came in 2012 when he joined Rodez AF's youth system during his second year of U17 Nationaux, recruited by youth coordinator Franck Plenecassagne for advanced development.[7] At Rodez, operating in the Championnat National 2 context for its senior and reserve teams, he benefited from intensive training focused on tactical discipline and physical conditioning, transitioning from his initial role as a right midfielder to a dedicated right-back under coach Laurent Peyrelade.[9] This shift solidified his positional identity, with early recognition in internal youth evaluations for his speed and defensive reliability, preparing him for higher-level progression by 2015.[1]Club career
Rodez AF and Dijon breakthrough
Valentin Rosier began his senior professional career with Rodez AF in the Championnat National 2 during the 2015–16 season, where he made 25 appearances without scoring any goals, primarily featuring as a right-back after progressing through the club's youth academy.[10] In July 2016, Rosier joined Dijon FCO on a free transfer ahead of their return to Ligue 1, signing a three-year contract and marking his step up to the top flight.[11] His professional debut came earlier that season in the Coupe de France on 31 January 2017, starting in a 2–1 defeat to Bordeaux, but his Ligue 1 bow followed on 30 April 2017 in a 0–0 home draw against the same opponents, where he played the full 90 minutes as a right-back.[12] Limited to just four appearances across all competitions in 2016–17, Rosier helped Dijon secure Ligue 1 survival with a 16th-place finish, contributing defensively in the final matches of the campaign.[10] Rosier's breakthrough at Dijon accelerated in the 2017–18 season, where he became a regular starter at right-back, logging 37 appearances without finding the net but providing three assists and solidifying his role in the team's backline.[10] Dijon finished 12th that year, with Rosier featuring in key fixtures including Ligue 1 clashes and cup ties, his consistent performances earning praise for his defensive reliability and progression from the fourth tier just two years prior.[13] By the 2018–19 season, he had established himself as the first-choice right-back, making 19 appearances before his departure, though the side struggled and ultimately finished 18th, facing relegation.[10] Over his three seasons at Dijon, Rosier amassed 60 appearances across all competitions with no goals, playing a pivotal role in the club's efforts to maintain Ligue 1 status during his tenure.[14] His development highlighted a tenacious defender adept at overlapping runs and one-on-one duels, ranking among Ligue 1's top-performing right-backs in metrics like interceptions and successful tackles per game during 2018.[15]Sporting CP and initial European move
On 27 June 2019, Valentin Rosier completed his transfer from Dijon FCO to Sporting CP, signing a five-year contract until June 2024 and marking his initial foray into European football outside France.[16] The deal, which included the exchange of winger Mama Baldé to Dijon, was reported at a fee of €7.5 million.[17] Coming off a solid Ligue 1 tenure at Dijon, where he had established himself as a reliable right-back, Rosier joined a competitive Sporting squad aiming to challenge for domestic and European honors. Rosier's Primeira Liga debut occurred on 15 September 2019, as a substitute in a 1–1 away draw against Boavista FC.[18] Over the ensuing months, he featured sporadically, including in UEFA Europa League qualifiers and group stage matches, but struggled to secure a regular starting role amid a crowded right-back position occupied by players like Thierry Correia. From 2019 to 2021, Rosier's stint at Sporting yielded just 14 appearances across all competitions, with no goals scored, hampered primarily by recurring foot injuries that sidelined him for extended periods and limited his integration into the team's tactics.[5] Despite the high-profile move, his limited minutes reflected the challenges of adapting to a new league and competing for position in a squad rebuilding under coach Marcel Keizer and later Jorge Silas.[19] Seeking greater opportunities, Rosier was loaned to Turkish club Beşiktaş on 2 October 2020 for the 2020–21 season, a move that provided the platform for his subsequent permanent transfer and revitalized career trajectory.Beşiktaş tenure and Turkish success
Rosier joined Beşiktaş on a season-long loan from Sporting CP on 2 October 2020. The arrangement included an option to buy, and he quickly established himself as a regular starter at right-back, contributing to the team's defensive solidity during the 2020–21 campaign.[1] In July 2021, the loan was extended for an additional year, with Beşiktaş exercising the purchase option later that September for a reported €4.8 million, securing Rosier's services on a permanent basis effective from the 2022–23 season and extending his contract until June 2025.[20] During the loan period spanning the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons, he made 64 appearances in the Süper Lig, scoring 2 goals and providing 11 assists, while also featuring in cup and European competitions.[10] Rosier's debut season proved pivotal, as he appeared in 33 Süper Lig matches, helping Beşiktaş secure the 2020–21 league title—their first in four years—through consistent defensive contributions that limited opponents to key clean sheets in the title run.[21] His standout performances that year earned him selection to the 2020–21 Süper Lig Team of the Season, recognizing his reliability and attacking overlaps from the right flank.[22] Following the permanent move, Rosier continued as a mainstay, accumulating 39 more Süper Lig appearances across the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons with 1 goal, bringing his total league output at the club to 103 appearances and 3 goals.[10] Among his notable contributions were decisive goals.Recent moves in Spain
In January 2024, Rosier joined OGC Nice on loan from Beşiktaş until the end of the 2023–24 Ligue 1 season, with an option to buy.[23] His time at Nice was limited to just three appearances totaling 53 minutes, hampered by recurring muscular issues including hamstring discomfort that sidelined him for much of the spring.[24][25] Following the loan's expiration, Rosier signed a one-year free transfer with CD Leganés in July 2024 ahead of their return to La Liga.[26] He featured in 32 league matches during the 2024–25 season, scoring 1 goal and providing 2 assists while offering defensive solidity on the right flank as Leganés suffered relegation to the Segunda División.[27] On 28 May 2025, Rosier moved to CA Osasuna on a free transfer, agreeing to a three-year contract through June 2028.[28] He made his debut in August 2025 against Real Madrid and has since contributed to Osasuna's mid-table position with eight La Liga appearances and one assist by November, emphasizing his role in bolstering the team's defensive transitions.[29][30] Rosier's transitions to Spanish football have highlighted his adaptability as a right-back, prioritizing positional discipline and overlap support in systems focused on countering high-pressing opponents, drawing on his prior experience in competitive leagues.[5]International career
Youth international appearances
Valentin Rosier's involvement with France's youth national teams was primarily at the under-21 level, where he earned seven caps without scoring any goals between March and October 2018.[31] His call-up to the U21 squad followed a breakthrough season at Dijon, where his consistent performances as a right-back in Ligue 1 highlighted his potential for international duty. Rosier made his debut on 23 March 2018, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–0 away win against Kazakhstan during the qualifiers for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[31] He went on to feature in three more qualifier matches and three friendlies that year, often deployed at right-back and occasionally on the left, contributing to France's successful qualification campaign. His appearances included a notable substitute role in a 1–0 friendly win over Turkey on 12 October 2018.[31] The following table summarizes Rosier's U21 international appearances:| Date | Opponent | Result | Competition | Position | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23/03/2018 | Kazakhstan | 3–0 | UEFA U21 Championship qual. | RB | 90' |
| 27/03/2018 | Montenegro | 2–0 | UEFA U21 Championship qual. | LB | 90' |
| 25/05/2018 | Switzerland | 1–2 | Friendly | Sub | 7' |
| 29/05/2018 | Italy | 1–1 | Friendly | RB | 90' |
| 07/09/2018 | Bulgaria | 1–0 | UEFA U21 Championship qual. | RB | 90' |
| 12/10/2018 | Turkey | 1–0 | Friendly | Sub | 45' |
| 16/10/2018 | Slovenia | 1–1 | UEFA U21 Championship qual. | RB | 90' |
Senior national team involvement
Valentin Rosier has not earned any senior international caps for France as of November 2025.[32] Despite his promising youth career, including seven appearances for the France U21 team in 2018, Rosier has yet to receive a senior call-up, with selectors prioritizing other right-back options amid intense competition.[32][33] Born in Montauban to parents of Guadeloupean, Malagasy, and Italian descent, Rosier holds eligibility for Italy and Guadeloupe in addition to France, but he has consistently affirmed his commitment to Les Bleus. In a September 2025 interview following his move to CA Osasuna, he emphasized this preference, stating, "For me, I choose France. If I can play for France, that would be nice," while holding out hope for a debut opportunity.[33][5] At age 29, Rosier continues to focus on solidifying his role at Osasuna in La Liga, viewing consistent club performances as the key to attracting national team attention.[33]Playing style and attributes
Technical and tactical skills
Valentin Rosier excels as a modern right-back with notable strengths in attacking transitions, particularly through overlapping runs that allow him to support wingers and create opportunities from the right flank. His ability to time these runs effectively has been highlighted in tactical analyses, contributing to his assist potential, where he recorded 0.19 assists per 90 minutes during the 2020-21 Süper Lig season with Beşiktaş.[4] This offensive inclination is complemented by competent crossing, though his delivery accuracy has shown improvement over time, enabling him to deliver precise balls into dangerous areas during overlaps.[5] Defensively, Rosier demonstrates solid tackling and positioning, averaging 1.61 tackles per 90 minutes across his career, with strong qualitative assessments in this area from performance metrics.[34] He thrives in formations like the 4-2-3-1, where his positioning allows him to cover wide areas while maintaining defensive shape, often registering high interception rates—such as 67 interceptions in the 2020-21 season—to disrupt opposition build-up play.[4] His bravery in duels, averaging 9.06 defensive duels per 90 in early Ligue 1 outings, underscores a proactive defensive style that prioritizes recovery and blocking.[15] Rosier's versatility extends beyond the right-back role, occasionally deploying as a right midfielder to add midfield depth, a flexibility evidenced by his positional history across defender and midfielder slots.[35] As a ball-playing defender, he maintains decent pass accuracy in progression phases, though recent evaluations note areas for refinement in long-range distribution.[35] A noted weakness lies in aerial duels, where his 1.75 m height contributes to occasional lapses, with a career aerial duel win rate around 46-56% depending on the season, making him vulnerable against taller forwards.[36] This physical limitation is somewhat mitigated by enhanced agility from supplementary boxing training, which bolsters his overall duel-winning capacity on the ground.[37]Physical conditioning and influences
Rosier possesses a lean athletic build, weighing approximately 70 kg at a height of 1.75 m, which supports his exceptional stamina essential for sustaining high-intensity performances as a full-back over full matches.[38] His conditioning regimen places strong emphasis on speed and endurance, evidenced by top sprint speeds reaching 34.5 km/h during league fixtures, enabling rapid recovery and overlapping runs.[39] In the 2023–24 season, while with Beşiktaş and on loan at Nice, Rosier dealt with injuries that limited his appearances on loan at Nice to three matches, following earlier injury issues with Beşiktaş, but these were proactively managed via tailored physical programs to minimize downtime and aid rehabilitation.[40] A distinctive element of his training influences is the integration of boxing sessions, which Rosier credits for boosting agility, balance, and post-session recovery in a 2025 interview.[40] He described boxing as beneficial for overall body control and mental discipline, stating, "It’s mainly about the mentality and having more control over myself, and after boxing, it’s good because I work my body, so it’s good for me and my football attributes."[40] This cross-training approach, conducted alongside club workouts, has contributed to his improved injury resilience since the 2018–19 season despite periodic setbacks. In October 2025, Rosier sustained a hamstring injury expected to sideline him until early January 2026.[40][36] Rosier's physical prowess is tactically leveraged in matches to support pressing and transitional play, where his endurance allows sustained involvement without fatigue.[41]Personal life
Heritage and identity
Valentin Rosier was born in Montauban, France, of Guadeloupean and Italian descent, which forms a key part of his multicultural heritage. This background fosters a dual cultural identity, blending metropolitan French life with influences from overseas territories and European ancestry.[42][43] Rosier's mixed heritage has been publicly acknowledged in profiles highlighting his embrace of these diverse origins, including potential eligibility to represent Guadeloupe at the international level due to his Guadeloupean descent. In football contexts, he symbolizes the representation of varied French talent, as featured in 2019 discussions of the "Hype French Generation" that emphasize the multicultural fabric of emerging players.[44]Interests outside football
Beyond his professional commitments, Valentin Rosier has developed a keen interest in fashion, evolving his personal style since his early career days. He favors a "classy-comfy" aesthetic, often incorporating pieces like Stussy trousers paired with a classic white shirt and a Junya Watanabe jacket, while experimenting with edgier items such as a black Comme des Garçons net shirt and a Craig Green garment.[44] A dedicated collector of Air Jordan AJ1 sneakers, Rosier has expressed aspiration to acquire the exclusive Dior x Jordan collaboration, reflecting his growing passion for the fashion world.[44] Rosier also pursues boxing as a personal hobby and means of stress relief during his downtime. He trains sporadically with the brother of a kickboxing champion friend, viewing it as an engaging activity that promotes self-control and mental clarity.[40] In a 2025 interview, he described it as "a new thing for me" that he enjoys when free, emphasizing its role in maintaining balance outside his routine.[40] In his off-pitch life, Rosier leads a low-key, home-centered lifestyle, preferring to unwind indoors rather than venture out socially. He is an avid gamer, frequently playing titles like Grand Theft Auto, NBA 2K, and FIFA, including the Career Mode, alongside lighter funny games and occasional horror ones.[33] Describing himself as "very normal" and somewhat like "an older person," he enjoys casual hangouts with friends at home, avoiding city strolls or nightlife.[33] Rosier maintains strong ties to his roots in Montauban, France, where he was born, but keeps his family life strictly private, with no public details on relationships or personal matters.[1]Career statistics
Club statistics
As of 17 November 2025, Valentin Rosier has accumulated 274 appearances and 7 goals across all club competitions in his professional career.[10] The breakdown below details his statistics by club and competition type, reflecting periods of loans and permanent transfers that shaped his career progression. Rosier began at Rodez AF in 2015–16, then Dijon FCO in 2016, moved to Sporting CP in 2019 (where he featured in senior and European fixtures), joined Beşiktaş on loan in 2020 (later made permanent in 2021), spent the 2023–24 season on loan at OGC Nice from Beşiktaş, signed with CD Leganés in 2024, and transferred to CA Osasuna in July 2025.[1][4]| Club | League (App/Goals) | Domestic Cups (App/Goals) | Continental (App/Goals) | Total (App/Goals) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rodez AF (2015–2016) | National 2: 25/0 | — | — | 25/0 |
| Dijon FCO (2016–2019) | Ligue 1: 57/0 | Coupe de France/Ligue: 3/0 | — | 60/0 |
| Sporting CP (2019–2020) | Primeira Liga: 9/0 | Taça de Portugal/Allianz Cup: 2/0 | UEFA Europa League: 5/0 | 16/0 |
| Beşiktaş (2020–2024) | Süper Lig: 103/3 | Türkiye Kupası/Super Cup: 9/3 | UCL/Conf. League/Qual.: 14/0 | 126/6 |
| OGC Nice (loan, 2023–2024) | Ligue 1: 3/0 | — | — | 3/0 |
| CD Leganés (2024–2025) | LaLiga: 32/1 | Copa del Rey: 4/0 | — | 36/1 |
| CA Osasuna (2025–) | LaLiga: 8/0 | Copa del Rey: 0/0 | — | 8/0 |
| Career Total | 237/4 | 18/3 | 19/0 | 274/7 |
International statistics
Valentin Rosier has represented France at youth international level, accumulating 7 caps exclusively with the under-21 team between March and October 2018, during which he scored no goals.[32] He featured in 4 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers and 3 friendly matches, primarily as a right-back, logging a total of 502 minutes on the pitch.[32] Rosier has no senior international appearances for France as of November 2025.[32] The following table details his under-21 international appearances:| Date | Opponent | Competition | Result | Position | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23/03/2018 | Kazakhstan U21 | UEFA Euro U21 Qualifier | 3–0 | RB | 90' |
| 27/03/2018 | Montenegro U21 | UEFA Euro U21 Qualifier | 2–0 | LB | 90' |
| 25/05/2018 | Switzerland U21 | International Friendly | 1–2 | - | 7' |
| 29/05/2018 | Italy U21 | International Friendly | 1–1 | RB | 90' |
| 07/09/2018 | Bulgaria U21 | UEFA Euro U21 Qualifier | 1–0 | RB | 90' |
| 12/10/2018 | Turkey U21 | International Friendly | 1–0 | - | 45' |
| 16/10/2018 | Slovenia U21 | UEFA Euro U21 Qualifier | 1–1 | RB | 90' |
Honours
Club honours
During his tenure with Beşiktaş initially on loan from 2020 to 2021, Valentin Rosier won three major domestic titles, contributing significantly to the team's success in the Süper Lig, Turkish Cup, and Turkish Super Cup.[21][45] Beşiktaş (2020–21)- Süper Lig: Champions. Rosier featured in 33 league matches, providing defensive stability and assisting in the title-winning campaign that ended on 15 May 2021 with a 2–1 victory over Göztepe, where he played the full 90 minutes.[46][47]
- Turkish Cup: Champions. Rosier appeared in 4 cup matches, including scoring a goal in the final against Antalyaspor on 18 May 2021, securing a 2–0 win just days after the league title.[45][48]
- Turkish Super Cup: Champions (2021).[21]