This meant that despite their successes in the previous season, Lens would return to Ligue 2 no matter where they finished in the league.

The club's stadium Stade Bollaert-Delelis was under renovation for the entirety of the season, ahead of the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament in France.

Lens instead played the majority of their matches at Stade de la Licorne in Amiens and played four matches against higher-profile league teams at the French national stadium Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

Also, players from the ACP countries—countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific that are signatories to the Cotonou Agreement—are not counted against non-EU quotas due to the Kolpak ruling.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.