Loïc Rémy

Loïc Rémy (born 2 January 1987) is a French professional footballer who plays for English club Crystal Palace, on loan from Chelsea, and the France national team, primarily as a forward. He was described by his former manager Didier Deschamps as "a young international who is fast and powerful with huge potential". He was sent out on loan to Crystal Palace on 30 August 2016 but returned almost immediately on 10 September 2016 to Chelsea after sustaining an ankle injury.
Born in Rillieux-la-Pape, Rhône, Rémy began his career playing for a local youth club in his home city of Lyon, before joining the biggest club in the city, Olympique Lyonnais, joining their youth academy. In 2005, he was promoted to the senior team and struggled to establish himself in three seasons under managers Gérard Houllier and Alain Perrin. In 2008, he was loaned out to RC Lens and, after a successful stint, was purchased by OGC Nice ahead of the 2008–09 season. With Nice, Rémy flourished in the lead striker role scoring over 25 goals in his two years with the club. In 2010, after enduring interest from several clubs domestically and abroad, Rémy joined the defending champions Marseille on a five-year contract. He moved abroad for the first time to join Queens Park Rangers in January 2013, but could not prevent their relegation. The following season he remained in the Premier League on loan at Newcastle United. In the summer of 2014, Rémy signed for Chelsea for a reported £10.5 million, where he won the League Cup and Premier League in his first season.
Rémy is a former France under-20 and under-21 international. He earned his first cap for the senior team in June 2009 against Nigeria and played at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Early career

Rémy was born on 2 January 1987 in a Red Cross hospital in Rillieux-la-Pape, a commune in the city of Lyon. He began his career, as a youth, playing for local outfit ASPTT Lyon, who were coached by René Jacquet, the brother of manager Aimé Jacquet. After being spotted by Olympique Lyonnais scouts, he joined the club's youth academy. While training at the Centre Tola Vologe, Rémy trained alongside the likes of Karim Benzema, Anthony Mounier, and Hatem Ben Arfa. After spending several years in the academy, on 11 October 2006, Rémy signed his first professional contract agreeing to a three-year deal. Three days later, on 14 October, he made his professional debut in a Derby du Rhône match against Saint-Étienne appearing as a substitute, in the 73rd minute, for Sylvain Wiltord. Rémy earned his first start the following month, on 11 November, playing 82 minutes in a 1–0 victory over Sedan.

Loan to Lens

The 2007–08 season saw Rémy permanently promoted to the senior team after being assigned the number 12 shirt. Despite being on the first team, he regularly played with the club's Championnat de France amateur team in the fourth division. Rémy only made six league appearances during the fall season with Lyon. In order to increase the player's playing time, on 31 January 2008, Lyon announced that Rémy would be sent on loan to fellow Ligue 1 club RC Lens. The deal also included a purchase option, which was estimated to be within the €8–10 million range. Rémy was assigned the number 9 shirt and made his debut on 9 February 2008 scoring his first professional goal in the club's 4–1 away victory over Caen. Two weeks later, he scored a goal in the club's 5–4 victory over Le Mans in the Coupe de la Ligue semi-finals. Rémy played 96 of the 120 minutes played. On 15 March, in front a 40,000+ Lens supporters, he scored the would-be game-winning goal against Marseille. Marseille equalized through Djibril Cissé in the waning minutes of the match. In the 2008 Coupe de la Ligue final against Paris Saint-Germain, Rémy started the match, but played only 12 minutes before being substituted due to injury. Lens lost the match, 1–0. Following the successful loan spell, in which Rémy made 12 total appearances and scored four goals, it was announced that he would be returning to Lyon for the 2008–09 season.

Nice

Despite having two years left on his contract at Lyon, it was announced on 5 June 2008 that Rémy would be joining Nice with the player agreeing to a four-year deal and the transfer fee being approximately €8 million making Rémy the biggest transfer in the club's history. Upon his arrival, Rémy was assigned the number 7 shirt and made his debut in the club's opening match of the season, a 1–0 loss to Le Havre. Over the next six matches, Rémy scored six goals. These goals included a strike against his former club Lyon and a brace against Boulogne in the Coupe de la Ligue. In a span of four days in October, he scored goals against Bordeaux in a 2–2 draw and Caen in a 1–1 draw. After going scoreless for most of the winter months, Rémy returned to form in March 2009 scoring goals in three straight matches against Caen, Paris Saint-Germain, and Lorient, with the player scoring a brace against the latter. He finished the season with 36 total appearances and a club-leading 13 goals.

Rémy as an OGC Nice player in 2008

Rémy opened up the 2009–10 campaign scoring his first goal in the opening league match of the season against Saint-Étienne in a 2–0 victory. A month later, he netted goals in three straight matches against Monaco and Lille in the league and against Saint-Étienne in the Coupe de la Ligue. Two weeks later, Rémy converted goals in back-to-back matches against Lorient and his former club Lyon, though Nice lost both matches at a combined score of 8–2. On 7 November 2009, Rémy scored the game-winning goal, two minutes from time, in the team's upset victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes. The following match day, he again accounted for the only goal of the match converting a penalty against Toulouse. On 10 January 2010, Rémy converted Nice's only goal in their 2–1 loss to semi-professional club Stade Plabennecois in the Coupe de France.

On 20 January, following a heartbreaking 1–0 defeat to Auxerre at home, disgruntled Nice supporters reportedly spat on several Nice players, which included Rémy. During an interview, Rémy called the supporters' actions "unacceptable" and threatened to depart the club during the winter 2010 transfer window if the actions were repeated. Rémy had drawn interest from several clubs, which included Premier League club Arsenal, and Italian clubs A.C. Milan and Fiorentina. He was also linked with a return to Lyon and a move to the defending Ligue 1 champions Bordeaux. Eventually, Rémy remained at the club after a move to his former club Olympique Lyonnais failed to come to fruition. Rémy played out the rest of the campaign scoring goals in back-to-back matches on two occasions in February and March 2010. On 2 May, he scored double in a 3–3 draw with Boulogne and on the final match day of the year against Saint-Étienne, Rémy scored the Nice's only goal in a 1–1 draw.

Marseille

In the Summer of 2010 Remy was linked with a move to Stoke City and was even pictured at the club's training ground checking out the facilities.

Rémy playing for Marseille in 2010

However, nothing came of this and on 19 August Olympique de Marseille confirmed that they had reached an agreement with Nice for the transfer of Rémy. Rémy underwent a medical on the same day and signed a five-year contract. He was presented to the press on 20 August. The transfer fee is undisclosed, but is reported to be in the region of €15 million. During Rémy's press conference, Marseille president Jean-Claude Dassier revealed that, during the player's medical, tests revealed that Rémy suffered from a possible heart defect. Rémy missed the team's league match against Lorient on 21 August and further tests were conducted on 23 August to determine whether the defect could be career-threatening. On 24 August, Rémy was declared fit to practice and play the sport of football at a high level by Marseille doctors and heart specialists consulted by the club.

Rémy was assigned the number 11 shirt and made his club debut for Marseille on 29 August 2010 in a league match against Bordeaux. He scored his first goal for the club on 16 October in a 1–0 league victory over Nancy. The following week, he scored a double in a 3–1 win over Lille. In the UEFA Champions League, Rémy scored group stage goals against Slovak club MŠK Žilina and Russian club FC Spartak Moscow.

He scored the only goal of the game in a 1–0 victory over AS Nancy on 2 May 2012, their first Ligue 1 victory since 29 January, a run that spanned 14 games.

Queens Park Rangers

On 13 January 2013, the president of Olympique Marseille confirmed that the club had accepted a bid in the region of €10 million for Rémy from English club Newcastle United, and the player was expected to travel to Newcastle for talks but failed to turn up. Three days later, Rémy signed a four-and-a-half year contract with bottom of the league Queens Park Rangers, who paid a club record £8 million fee for the player. He was handed the number 18 shirt. The BBC Sport website reported that QPR's financial package, "understood to be more than £70,000 per week", was higher than Newcastle had offered. He scored his first goal for the club during his league debut on 19 January away against West Ham United, which ended in a 1–1 draw.

On 15 May 2013 Rémy, along with two other men, was arrested in London over an alleged gang rape that took place on 6 May. Remy was released without charge in February 2014

Loan to Newcastle United

On 5 August 2013, Newcastle United confirmed that they had signed Rémy on a season-long loan from Queens Park Rangers. He missed the first two games of the season due to injury, however he made an immediate impact on his league debut against Fulham. He scored his first league goals for Newcastle against Hull City on 21 September, a brace in their 3–2 defeat. He followed that up by scoring in the next game against Everton at Goodison Park on 30 September, however Newcastle once again went on to lose 3–2. Five days later Rémy continued his this run of form by scoring both goals in a 2–1 away win over Cardiff City, bringing his total goal count to 5 in as many appearances. On 2 November 2013, Remy scored the second goal against Chelsea in a 2–0 victory at home, and received Man of the match for his goal and work in the forward line. On 10 November 2013, Rémy scored the only goal of the game as Newcastle won, 1–0, against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane to take his tally to 7 goals In 9 league games. Rémy once again scored on 23 November 2013 in Newcastle United's 2-1 victory over Norwich, bringing his tally to 8 goals in 10 league games.

Upon his expiration of his loan spell at Newcastle and despite QPR being promoted at the first attempt, manager Harry Redknapp admitted it would be hard to hold on to Rémy, "I think he really wants to play Champions League football next year somewhere".

After a successful loan spell at Newcastle United, Rémy attracted interested from Champions League clubs, notably Arsenal and Liverpool, along with Chelsea. Liverpool triggered the £8.5 million release clause in Rémy's contract which was only available for Champions League teams. Liverpool however pulled out of the transfer after it was reported that he failed his medical with the club.

Chelsea

On 30 August 2014, Rémy was left out of QPR's match against Sunderland after it was reported that Chelsea had activated his £10.5 million release clause. Although he wanted to play, manager Harry Redknapp thought that he would not be at his best due to the pending transfer. The next day, he signed a four-year contract, saying "I feel very happy and very proud. When I heard Chelsea wanted to sign me I said "let's go" straight away because they are one of the best clubs in the world". Rémy was given the squad number 18 shirt, which was previously worn by Romelu Lukaku.

2014–15 season

Rémy celebrating with Filipe Luís during Chelsea's FA Cup victory over Watford in January 2015

On 13 September 2014, Rémy made his debut for Chelsea against Swansea City by coming on in the 72nd minute for Diego Costa, who had scored a hat-trick. Nine minutes later, Rémy scored Chelsea's fourth goal of the 4–2 win at Stamford Bridge from Oscar's pass. With Costa injured, Rémy started for the first time on 18 October in a 2–1 win at Crystal Palace, in which he was on the receiving end of both of the fouls which had Damien Delaney sent off. He scored his second goal for the club and first Champions League goal for Chelsea on 21 October, netting the opener from outside the penalty box in a 6−0 home win over Maribor. In doing so, he obtained an injury and was substituted.

As Costa was suspended, Rémy started at home against Manchester City on 31 January 2015, opening the scoring in a 1–1 draw which kept his team 5 points above their opponents in first place. After the match, Rémy paid tribute to team-mate Eden Hazard's pass that led to the goal, as he said :"He [Hazard] is an instinctive player, I know him and I knew he would put the ball there so I just went for it and scored the goal, but it was a fantastic assist.". On 22 March, Rémy replaced Costa in the 74th minute of a match away to Hull City in which Chelsea were drawing 2–2 having led earlier in the match; three minutes later he scored the winner with his first touch of the game. In Chelsea's final game of the season, against Sunderland on 24 May, Rémy replaced the injured Juan Cuadrado in the final minute of the first half and scored two goals as the team came from behind to win 3–1.

2015–16 season

On 2 August 2015 , Rémy made his first appearance of the season in 1–0 defeat of the FA Community Shield against London rivals Arsenal, after Diego Costa missing the match due to an injury. Rémy scored his first and only league goal of the season on 14 December 2015 against Leicester City in a 2–1 defeat.

Loan to Crystal Palace

On 30 August 2016, Rémy joined Crystal Palace on a season-long loan after failing to impress under new manager Antonio Conte. On 10 September, less than two weeks after signing, he returned to Chelsea for treatment after picking up a knee injury during training and is expected to be out of action for two months.

Remy is the cousin of Saudi Arabian footballer Abbas Shengeeti.

Rémy playing for France in 2014

Rémy was a France youth international having earned caps with the under-20 and under-21 team. With the under-20 team, he played in the 2007 Toulon Tournament scoring goals against the Côte d'Ivoire and Japan. Rémy made his under-21 debut on 15 November 2007 in a friendly match against Armenia. He scored his first goal for the team on 25 May 2008 against the Netherlands in an under-21 tournament held in Sweden. Rémy featured in the team's important two-legged playoff against Germany in qualification for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship in October 2008. He appeared in both legs as France were defeated 2–1 on aggregate. The 1–0 loss in the second leg eliminated France from the competition and also ended Rémy's under-21 career.

On 24 March 2008, due to an injury to Thierry Henry, Rémy was called up to the France national football team by manager Raymond Domenech for friendly matches against England and Mali, with the latter match for France B, the squad's second team. Rémy appeared in the match against Mali coming on as a substitute in the 54th minute for Samir Nasri. After a string of uneventful call-ups to the senior team, on 2 June, Rémy finally made his national team debut against Nigeria coming on as a substitute in the team's 1–0 defeat. He scored his first goal on 9 October 2010 in a Euro 2012 qualification match against Romania, which ended 2–0.

He was part of the French squad which reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He made his tournament debut in the final group game on 26 June, a goalless draw with Ecuador, playing the last 11 minutes in place of Antoine Griezmann. Rémy's only other appearance at the tournament came in the 74th minute of the quarter-final against Germany, replacing Yohan Cabaye as France lost 1–0.

Club

As of 21 January 2017.

International

Correct as of 14 October 2014.

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	9 October 2010	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Romania	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
2	10 August 2011	Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier, France	Chile	1–0	1–1	Friendly
3	7 October 2011	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Albania	2–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
4	11 November 2011	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	United States	1–0	1–0	Friendly
5	27 May 2014	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Norway	3–0	4–0	Friendly
6	4 September 2014	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France	Spain	1–0	1–0	Friendly
7	14 October 2014	Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia	Armenia	1–0	3–0	Friendly
Correct as of 14 October 2014

Rémy (centre) playing in the 2011 Trophée des Champions.

Club

Lyon

• Ligue 1: 2006–07
• Trophée Des Champions: 2006, 2007

Marseille

• Coupe de la Ligue: 2010–11, 2011–12
• Trophée Des Champions: 2011

Chelsea

• Premier League: 2014–15
• Football League Cup: 2014–15

• ^