Olympique Lyonnais require a significant injection of funds and are prepared to sell several players to balance their finances, according to comments made by manager Paulo Fonseca to L’Équipe. The club needs to generate 20 million euros by June 30th to address ongoing financial concerns inherited from previous ownership.
Fonseca’s statements reveal a necessity to sell despite Lyon securing a fourth-place finish in Ligue 1 this season. The club is attempting to stabilize its financial position following a period of instability. Several players have been identified as potential departures to meet the financial target.
Five players are currently considered ‘untouchable’ – Moussa Niakhaté, Dominik Greif, Corentin Tolisso, Tyler Morton, and either Afonso Moreira or Malick Fofana. However, a sufficiently large offer could still tempt the club to part ways with any player. The situation surrounding Moreira and Fofana is complicated by a recent ankle injury to the latter, which has kept him sidelined for an extended period.
Alongside those deemed essential, Orel Mangala, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Abner Vinícius, Tanner Tessmann, and young forwards Ruben Kluivert and Pavel Šulc are all candidates for a summer transfer. Kluivert, in particular, has been highlighted as a player whose sale could significantly contribute to the club’s financial goals. The 20-year-old forward joined Lyon from Ajax in the summer of 2023, making 23 appearances across all competitions, scoring 3 goals. He has shown promise but the club’s financial situation means even promising young players are not safe from being sold.
The need to raise funds comes after Lyon qualified for the Champions League preliminary rounds. This qualification, while a sporting success, highlights the financial disparity between Lyon and other top European clubs, necessitating player sales to remain competitive. The club will be hoping to secure reasonable fees for departing players to reinvest in the squad during the transfer window. The situation could impact Lyon’s ability to strengthen their team ahead of the new season, but Fonseca has made it clear that sales are a priority.
