The 2016–17 AS Nancy Lorraine season is the 49th professional season of the club since its creation in 1967. It's their 1st season back in Ligue 1 after their promotion from Ligue 2 in the 2015–16 season.
French teams are limited to four players without EU citizenship. Hence, the squad list includes only the principal nationality of each player; several non-European players on the squad have dual citizenship with an EU country. 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.
^After being relegated to Ligue 2, Bastia was initially further relegated to National due to financial difficulties.[5] On 10 August 2017, the FFF announced that Bastia was denied entry to National. The club therefore took the place of its reserve team in Championnat National 3.[6]