Romanian midfielder Rareș Ilie, 22, has been loaned by OGC Nice to Serie B side Empoli for the 2025/26 season, with an option for permanent transfer. Ilie, who previously spent a loan spell at Catanzaro without a permanent move, will aim to help Empoli secure promotion to Serie A. After moving from Rapid București to Nice in 2022 for €4 million, Ilie has struggled to settle in France and had multiple loans, including stints in Israel and Switzerland. Valued at €1.8 million, he remains a key figure for Romania’s U21 team but is yet to debut for the senior national side. This move could be pivotal for Ilie to reignite his club career and showcase his potential in Italy’s competitive second tier[1][2][3].
