Lens puts €7m into upgrading its Gaillette training base

RC Lens has used a summer shaped by the difficult economics of French football to focus on improving its own facilities. According to L’Équipe, the club put seven million euros into the modernisation of Gaillette, its training centre in Avion, where it has been based since 2002.

The club’s CEO, Benjamin Parrot, framed the choice with a direct quote: «On a, quelque part, fait le choix de "sacrifier" un transfert pour investir sur nous-mêmes» (as reported by L’Équipe). Parrot ties the project to the club’s planning: the works were one of the key elements of Lens’ three-year action plan.

Renovation of the training ground

The upgrade also comes with a ceremonial moment for the club. As L’Équipe explains, the Monday midday event saw Raphaël Varane —World Cup winner in 2018 and an emblem of the club’s youth system in red and gold — inaugurate the named “plaine” at the new Gaillette.

What it means for the club

Beyond the timing, Lens’ message is straightforward: betting on infrastructure to strengthen day-to-day work. By committing to this project, the club positions itself to support its broader sporting strategy while dealing with the broader constraints of the market. For now, the modernised Gaillette becomes another milestone within that multi-year roadmap.