Julien Duranville has completed a permanent transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Olympique Lyon, the Bundesliga club confirmed on Friday. The Belgian international has signed a contract with Lyon that will run until 2031, bringing an end to a challenging spell in Germany. The transfer fee is reported to be around €8.5 million, according to Ruhr Nachrichten.
Duranville arrived at Dortmund from RSC Anderlecht in January 2023, heralded as one of Belgium’s most promising young players, but his time at the Signal Iduna Park was significantly hampered by a series of injuries. He managed a total of 15 Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund, alongside nine in the Champions League and one in the DFB-Pokal, struggling to establish himself as a consistent starter.
His sole competitive goal for the Black and Yellows came in a DFB-Pokal match against Phönix Lübeck in August 2024. Duranville also featured twice for Dortmund during their participation in the Club World Cup, demonstrating his involvement in the squad despite his fitness concerns. Despite the difficulties at club level, he earned a senior international debut for Belgium in September 2024, appearing in a 3-1 victory over Israel.
Seeking more regular first-team football, the 20-year-old spent the latter half of last season on loan at FC Basel in the Swiss Super League. There, Duranville showcased his potential, scoring two goals and providing one assist in 16 appearances. This loan spell seemingly revitalized his career and contributed to Lyon’s interest in securing his services.
Borussia Dortmund sporting director Lars Ricken expressed his gratitude to Duranville, stating, “We thank Juju for three and a half years in black and yellow and wish him every success in the next chapter of his career, as well as all the best to him and his family.” The move provides Duranville with a fresh start in Ligue 1, where he will hope to fulfill his potential. Lyon will be hoping Duranville can add creativity and goals to their attack as they look to improve their league position.
