Olympique Lyonnais are continuing their pursuit of West Ham United winger Saïd Benrahma, with the transfer potentially receiving FIFA validation, according to reports. This comes after a challenging week for the club, culminating in a 4-0 defeat against Real Betis in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday.
The heavy loss in Seville exposed vulnerabilities in Lyon’s squad, particularly from set-pieces, with Marc Bartra and Nelson Deossa scoring from corners for Betis. Pablo García and Rodrigo Riquelme added further goals in the second half, compounding a disappointing performance for Paulo Fonseca’s side. Despite fielding a competitive starting eleven including Dominik Greif, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Clinton Mata, Tyler Morton, and Corentin Tolisso, Lyon were unable to contain the Spanish opposition.
Benrahma’s potential arrival is seen as a key part of Lyon’s efforts to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the upcoming Ligue 1 season and their crucial Champions League qualification campaign. The Algerian international has been linked with a move to the Groupama Stadium for some time, and the transfer is reportedly awaiting final approval from FIFA. Details regarding the fee and contract terms have not yet been disclosed.
The need for reinforcements is particularly acute given Lyon’s upcoming fixture against Sparta Prague in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. The match, scheduled for next week, represents a significant hurdle in their quest to return to the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition. Securing Benrahma’s services could provide a much-needed boost to the team’s morale and attacking firepower. The 28-year-old previously played for Brentford and West Ham, and has 22 goals in 124 Premier League appearances.
Lyon finished seventh in Ligue 1 last season, missing out on European qualification. The club is undergoing a period of rebuilding under Fonseca, and the addition of a player like Benrahma would signal their ambition to compete at the highest level. The transfer, if completed, would likely see Benrahma become a key player in Lyon’s attack, providing creativity and goal-scoring threat.
