AJ Auxerre have completed the signing of Congo international defender Christ Makosso from Luton Town, the Ligue 1 club confirmed on Wednesday. The 22-year-old centre-back moves to France on a permanent transfer after a season on loan at Oxford United.
While the club have not disclosed the financial details, L’Équipe reports that the transfer fee exceeds €2 million. The same publication understands that Makosso has signed a four-year contract, although Auxerre have not officially confirmed the length of the deal.
Return to France
The switch represents a homecoming for the defender, who first developed within the French football system. Makosso progressed through the academy at Sochaux, learning his trade in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region before departing for Belgian club RWDM.
He subsequently transferred to Luton Town, though first-team opportunities at the English club proved limited. To gain regular senior experience, the Congolese international spent the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Oxford United in League One, English football’s third tier.
Makosso has earned five senior caps for Congo.
Squad strengthening for survival
The acquisition forms part of Auxerre’s recruitment drive as they prepare for another season battling relegation from the French top flight. The club narrowly avoided the drop last term and are actively reshaping their roster.
Makosso follows Romain Faivre, who arrived on loan from AFC Bournemouth earlier in the window, as new faces brought in to improve squad quality. The defensive reinforcement addresses a specific need for depth at centre-back as the coaching staff aim to build a more resilient unit capable of securing their Ligue 1 status.
The Congolese defender will hope to establish himself in the starting eleven at the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps.