After being sidelined at Auxerre and becoming a free agent, 23-year-old French midfielder Kays Ruiz-Atil joined Belgian second-tier club Francs Borains in 2024. A departure from the team was expected during the last transfer window, as he was in negotiations with several clubs. However, the move failed to materialize due to negative press surrounding an anecdote told by Ander Herrera, which reportedly affected other teams' interest in giving him a chance. Ruiz-Atil has voiced his regret over the collapsed transfer, attributing it to the story resurfacing and damaging his reputation. The specific clubs involved have not been named. His current contract with Francs Borains is valid until 2026, and his market value is estimated by Transfermarkt to be €400k.