Metz Handball has officially confirmed the return of French national team captain Grace Zaadi Deuna. The playmaker returns to her “home” to bolster the squad for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
The signing comes as a strategic “joker” move following the news that German international Xenia Smits will be sidelined as she prepares to welcome a child. With Metz hunting for silverware both domestically and in the EHF Champions League, the club moved quickly to secure a world-class replacement who knows the club’s DNA better than anyone.
“Third time’s a charm”
This marks Zaadi’s third stint with the Dragonnes. Having originally played for the club between 2010 and 2020, and returning briefly in 2022, the 32-year-old center back is ready for one last dance in the yellow and blue jersey before her move to Romania next season.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Zaadi expressed her excitement:
– I am super happy to be coming to Metz. I’m delighted that this opportunity arose. As they say, third time’s a charm. I feel good and I’m excited about the idea of joining the team and reuniting with the club, especially since this is the most exciting part of the season.
– I know it won’t be simple—there will be an adaptation phase, the team already has its own history and chemistry, and so on. But if there is one place where I think this can happen quickly and well, it’s Metz. I can’t wait to see everyone again.
A Strategic Masterstroke
The move was made possible after Zaadi’s current club, RK Krim Ljubljana, failed to progress past the group stages of the EHF Champions League. This opened a window for the French captain to return to the Moselle region to provide veteran leadership during the business end of the season.
Metz coach Emmanuel Mayonnade emphasized that Zaadi was the obvious choice to fill the void left by Smits:
– The prospect of bringing back Grace Zaadi emerged quite naturally. We feel we know exactly what she is capable of bringing to the group, both on the court and within the collective life of the team.
– Her experience, her understanding of the game, and her ability to quickly integrate into a team dynamic are major assets at this stage of the season.
Club President Thierry Weizman echoed those sentiments, simply stating:
– With Grace, it’s the eternal return. Her human qualities, her game intelligence, and her knowledge of Metz Handball made her the obvious choice. I welcome her ‘home’.
What This Means for Metz
Zaadi brings a legendary resume back to the Arènes de Metz, including numerous French titles and her pivotal role in leading Metz to their first EHF FINAL4 in 2019.
While she has already signed a two-year deal with Romanian side SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea starting in the 2026/27 season, her immediate focus will be on delivering one more trophy to the Metz faithful.
And, fans won’t have to wait long to see the captain back in action, as she is expected to integrate into the squad immediately for the upcoming quarter-finals and the French Cup semi-finals.