Nicolas Cozza
Full nameNicolas Louis Marcel Cozza[1]
Birth date8 January 1999 (age 27)
Birth placeGanges, France
Height1.78 m[2]
PositionCentre-back, left-back
CurrentclubNantes
(on loan from VfL Wolfsburg)
Clubnumber3
Youthyears 12005–2008
Youthclubs 1FC Pays Viganais Aigoual
Youthyears 22008–2010
Youthclubs 2US Basses Cévennes
Youthyears 32010–2017
Youthclubs 3Montpellier
Years 12016–2019
Clubs 1Montpellier II
Caps 122
Goals 10
Years 22017–2023
Clubs 2Montpellier
Caps 299
Goals 25
Years 32023–
Clubs 3VfL Wolfsburg
Caps 311
Goals 30
Years 42024
Clubs 4→ Nantes (loan)
Caps 413
Goals 40
Years 52024–
Clubs 5→ Nantes (loan)
Caps 555
Goals 51
Nationalyears 12017
Nationalteam 1France U18
Nationalcaps 12
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 22017–2018
Nationalteam 2France U19
Nationalcaps 212
Nationalgoals 21
Nationalyears 32018–2019
Nationalteam 3France U20
Nationalcaps 35
Nationalgoals 30
Nationalyears 42019–2020
Nationalteam 4France U21
Nationalcaps 47
Nationalgoals 40
Pcupdate2 May 2026

Nicolas Louis Marcel Cozza (born 8 January 1999) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or left-back for club Nantes on loan from German club VfL Wolfsburg.

Club career

Cozza joined Montpellier in 2010 and signed his first professional contract on 14 June 2017.[3] He made his professional debut for Montpellier in a 0–0 Ligue 1 draw against Lyon on 19 November 2017.[4]

On 25 January 2023, Cozza signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg.[5]

On 1 February 2024, Cozza was loaned out to French side Nantes until the end of the season.[6]

After remaining on the bench in the first two Wolfsburg games of the 2024–25 season, on 28 August 2024 Cozza returned to Nantes on a new season-long loan.[7] A new Nantes loan for the 2025–26 season was announced on 8 July 2025.[8]

Personal life

Cozza is the grandson of former Montpellier captain Jean-Louis Besson. He is of Italian descent from Calabria.[9]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Montpellier B2016–17CFA80——80
2017–18National 390——90
2018–19National 350——50
Total220——220
Montpellier2017–18Ligue 191102[a][b]0121
2018–19Ligue 1120101[a]0140
2019–20Ligue 170001[a]080
2020–21Ligue 120030—230
2021–22Ligue 134230—372
2022–23Ligue 117210—182
Total99590401125
VfL Wolfsburg2022–23Bundesliga5010—60
2023–24Bundesliga6010—70
Total11020—130
Nantes (loan)2023–24Ligue 113000—130
Nantes (loan)2024–25Ligue 127120—291
2025–26Ligue 128020—300
Total55140—591
Career total2006150402196
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in the Coupe de la Ligue
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in the Coupe de la Ligue

References

  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: France". FIFA. 13 June 2019. p. 4. Archived 6 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ "Nicolas Cozza". FC Nantes. Archived 5 August 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Nicolas Cozza poursuit son rêve pailladin". www.mhscfoot.com
  4. ^ "LFP.fr - Ligue de Football Professionnel - Ligue 1 Conforama - Saison 2017/2018 - 13ème journée - Olympique Lyonnais / Montpellier Hérault SC". www.lfp.fr
  5. ^ "New arrival from France". VfL Wolfsburg. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Transferts : Nicolas Cozza (Wolfsburg) arrive à Nantes" [Transfers : Nicolas Cozza (Wolfsburg) arrives in Nantes] (in French). L'Équipe. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Nicolas Cozza de retour au FC Nantes" [Nicolas Cozza returns to FC Nantes] (in Italian). FC Nantes. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Nicolas Cozza revient au FC Nantes" [Nicolas Cozza returns to FC Nantes] (in French). FC Nantes. 8 July 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Football. MHSC : blessé, le défenseur central Nicolas Cozza est indisponible". actu.fr
  • Profile at the VfL Wolfsburg website