Fofana returns to Lyon on loan from Milan with €14m option to buy
Quick summary
Youssouf Fofana is set to rejoin Olympique Lyonnais on loan from AC Milan, with a total option to buy worth €14 million.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceMilan have reportedly finalised the agreement for Youssouf Fofana to Olympique Lyonnais, on a €2m loan with option to buy for €12m, despite Besiktas and Galatasaray interest.
The midfielder was frozen out of the squad throughout the summer, as he was not part of the plans for new coach Ruben Amorim.
Fofana has chosen Lyon MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 21: Youssouf Fofana of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Torino FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 21, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) There had been several alternatives for the Frenchman, above all Besiktas and Galatasaray , who were pursuing his signature even in the last few hours.
However, both player and club seemed to prefer the proposal from Ligue 1, and RMC Sport , Sky Sport Italia , Sportitalia and more confirm they have shaken hands.
It is going to be a €2m paid one-season loan with option to buy in June 2027 for a further €12m.
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 08: Youssouf Fofana of AC Milan battles for possession with Johan Vasquez of Genoa during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Genoa CFC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) The 27-year-old came to Milan from AS Monaco in the summer of 2024 for a fee of €26m, having previously played for RC Strasbourg.
Fofana has 25 senior caps for France, but the most recent appearances for Les Bleus were back in October 2024.
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What happened
Midfielder Youssouf Fofana is heading back to Olympique Lyonnais on a loan deal from AC Milan. The agreement includes an option to make the move permanent for a total package of €14 million. Fofana, who joined Milan from Monaco in 2024, will look to revive his career at his former club Lyon, where he previously developed as a player. The deal is described as a 'done deal' and is expected to be completed imminently.
Chance analysis
Fofana's return to Lyon marks a notable homecoming for a midfielder who came through the club's academy before establishing himself at Monaco and then moving to Milan. After a difficult spell in Serie A, the loan with a €14m option to buy gives Lyon a chance to re-acclimate a familiar profile, while Milan looks to recoup part of their original investment. This is a deal that makes sense on both sides: Lyon get a player who knows the environment, and Milan free up a wage and squad slot for reinforcements.
Olympique Lyonnais add a technically capable central midfielder familiar with the club, while AC Milan lose squad depth and create room for incoming signings.