Olympique Lyonnais confirms a lead to explain its financial slippages

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Under the threat of relegation from the French Football watchdog, Eagle Football Group, which oversees Olympique Lyonnais, published its turnover for the first quarter of the 2024-2025 financial year, reduced by a poor transfer window summer in terms of sales.

Decrease in revenue from player sales

Revenues generated by player transfers as of September 30, 2024 amounted to 29.7 million euros, compared to 90.5 million a year earlier over the same period, a drop of 67%, according to a press release from the group. .

The figure notably includes the sale of Jake O’Brien to Everton (14.3 million euros), Mamadou Sarr to Strasbourg (9.2 million) and Mama Baldé to Brest (4.2 million). But other planned sales were abandoned.

Results which weigh on the group’s quarterly turnover, at 66.1 million euros, compared to 123.1 million a year earlier.

“No one will allow the club to be relegated”

The National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG) severely punished OL for its debt, announcing on Friday the control of its payroll, a ban on recruitment during the winter transfer market and a “conservative demotion at the end of the current sporting season” of OL, currently 5th in Ligue 1.

The American John Textor, owner of the club, brushed aside this threat of demotion over the weekend.

“We have resources that go well beyond the club. We have shareholders with funds and capital. Nobody will allow the club to be relegated. We don’t have a money problem. It’s a problem of perception,” the leader argued on Saturday.
He also affirmed that the DNCG’s decision would not have an impact on negotiations concerning the transfer of players during the winter transfer window.

End of contract for Alexandre Lacazette, Anthony Lopes and Nicolas Tagliafico

Without mentioning any names, the American is counting heavily on the end of the contract of several highly paid players, such as Alexandre Lacazette, Anthony Lopes and Nicolas Tagliafico.

While showing his “respect” for the DNCG, John Textor said he was “uncomfortable” with the idea of ​​this organization “telling him how to conduct (his) business”.

AFP

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