OL is moving up a gear in the transfer window. Reassured by its successful passage in front of the DNCG on Thursday, June 27, John Textor’s club now has free rein to strengthen its squad. And it has wasted no time in doing so: this Sunday, June 30, two pieces of good news emerged for next season, while the major recruit Moussa Niakhaté has not even been made official yet.
OL continues its reconstruction
While waiting for the arrival of Nottingham defender Forrest, OL has completed the arrival of Argentinian world champion Thiago Almada, next January. Owner John Textor has just reached an agreement with Atlanta (MLS) for the transfer of the 21-year-old attacking midfielder, according to The Team . For this operation, Lyon will spend nearly 20 million euros. Thiago Almada, 4 caps with Argentina, will first spend 6 months in Botafogo (Brazil) and will join OL in January 2025.
Saïd Benrahma, for his part, is already at OL and will stay there. The Algerian attacking midfielder, who had only been on loan from West Ham since February, is now a full-fledged Gones player. OL announced this Sunday that it had exercised its purchase option, at 6 million euros. The former Nice player is now tied to Lyon until June 2027, with an optional year.
While OL had already made their big move of the summer by convincing captain Alexandre Lacazette to stay for another season, the Gones do not intend to stop there. In defense, Brazilian left-back Abner Vinicius will also arrive in the Rhône next season.
Rayan Cherki’s farewells are becoming clearer
To compensate for these expenses, OL is also working to sell and part with big salaries. A reverse side of the coin which will notably force the Gones to sacrifice one of their emblematic players: Rayan Cherki. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder, trained at the club, was pushed out by OL and was preparing to take charge of PSG, with whom he had reached an agreement. But this Sunday, June 30, The Team announces that the player has finally chosen Borussia Dortmund. OL should recover 15 million euros in the operation, regardless of Cherki’s landing point.
READ ALSO. OL. Pierre Sage finally obtains his professional trainer’s certificate
The Rhone club is also active on other priority sales, such as that of midfielders Maxence Caqueret – another Gone trained at the club – and Orel Mangala, who arrived… last February. Concerning the Belgian, on loan from Nottingham Forrest, OL could exercise their purchase option at 17.5 million euros and resell him immediately. Summer is already hot in Lyon, and the temperature could still rise a few degrees.
