18 months after his arrival in Mainz, Ludovic Ajorque is returning to the French top flight, initially on loan. There he joins Stade Brest, who finished third in Ligue 1 last year
“Ludovic is not a short-term solution, not a player who just complements us,” said then Mainz coach Bo Svensson when Ludovic Ajorque was introduced at the start of 2023. And the giant striker, who was brought in from Strasbourg, delivered. With six goals in the second half of the season, he breathed life into Mainz’s attacking play and played a key role in the Rhinelanders almost doubling their goal tally in the second half of the season compared to the first half.
However, his first full season at FSV was not as successful. The attacker, who was born in the overseas department of La Reunion, lost his place as a regular and has hardly played a role under Bo Henriksen of late. Ajorque is now looking for a new challenge. FSV and Brest initially agreed on a loan deal, which includes an option to buy
The move was initiated by Ajorque
“Ludovic Ajorque approached us with the desire for a change and we have complied with this after careful consideration,” commented sporting director Christian Heidel in a statement from the club. “We would like to thank Ludo, who we got to know here not only as a good footballer but also as a fine person, from the bottom of our hearts for his commitment and goals for Mainz 05 and wish him all the best for his time in Brest.”
“The time at Mainz 05 was really a great experience for me and my family,” Ajorque is quoted as saying. “I was very happy to be part of this club and will only remember the good times. “
Reunion with an old friend
The move to Brest not only sees the 30-year-old return to his homeland, but also to the league in which he scored 46 goals in 135 games before his time in Mainz. In Brittany, the striker now has his first opportunity to get a taste of Champions League football. He will also meet an old acquaintance in Mathias Pereira Lage. In the 2016/17 season, the Frenchman played alongside the left winger for Clermont Foot 63 in the French second division.
