Auxerre has announced the signing of 24-year-old French-Cameroonian midfielder Pierre Ekwah from AS Saint-Étienne on a paid loan. The deal involves a €300,000 loan fee and includes a non-mandatory purchase option valued at €6 million. Ekwah was signed to replace Assane Dioussé, who has a ruptured cruciate ligament. The club's official statement noted that the midfielder, who was part of the Chelsea and West Ham youth systems, started his professional career at Sunderland before having loan spells at Saint-Étienne, where he was a regular starter in Ligue 1, and subsequently at Watford. The midfielder has five caps for the France U20 team. According to Transfermarkt, he has a current market value of €2.00m. He had also been linked with Getafe, Anderlecht, and Rangers.