Milan agree to loan Athekame to Olympique Lyonnais
Quick summary
AC Milan have reached an agreement to loan young defender Athekame to Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais, giving the player regular first-team minutes away from San Siro.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceMilan have agreed the straight loan of Zachary Athekame to Olympique Lyonnais, claim French reports, with no option to make it permanent.
There had already been suggestions today in the Italian media that Athekame was one of the players to be cut from the squad after a disappointing pre-season with new coach Ruben Amorim.
Athekame did not impress Milan GENOA, ITALY – MAY 17: Zachary Athekame of Milan (right) celebrates with his team-mate Cheveyo Balentien after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and AC Milan at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on May 17, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images) Just hours later, French transfer pundit Fabrice Hawkins of RMC Sport revealed that Lyon had agreed terms for a dry loan, meaning there is no option to buy at the end of the season.
The Ligue 1 side will cover his full salary during the campaign, but he will then return to San Siro in the summer of 2027.
Athekame is a Switzerland international who was purchased only a year ago from Young Boys at a cost of €10m plus add-ons, but struggled to make an impact with the Rossoneri.
He made 29 competitive appearances, providing two goals against Pisa and Genoa, plus two assists for his teammates.
His contract with Milan still runs to June 2030.
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What happened
AC Milan have finalised terms to send Swiss defender Athekame out on loan to Olympique Lyonnais for the upcoming season. The move allows the young centre-back, who was signed by Milan but has found first-team opportunities limited, to gain top-flight experience in Ligue 1. Lyon, undergoing a squad rebuild of their own, will benefit from the addition of a promising defender. The deal is expected to be completed in the coming days, with Milan likely including various clauses typical of a developmental loan.
Chance analysis
For Milan, this is a pragmatic developmental loan — offloading a squad player to gain experience rather than letting him stagnate in the reserves. For Lyon, the signing addresses a defensive need as they look to solidify their back line in Ligue 1. The move signals Milan's confidence in the player's long-term potential while clearing a roster spot, and gives Lyon a motivated loanee with growth upside. The competitive impact on Milan's first XI is negligible; for Lyon's defensive depth, it's a meaningful addition.
Lyon's defensive options are strengthened with a promising loan signing, while Milan free up a squad spot and monitor the player's development from afar.
Expect improved defensive depth for Lyon this season; Milan's senior squad selection is unaffected by this loan move.