Openda ready for RC Lens return, but Juventus must cover costly salary
Quick summary
Lois Openda is open to a return to RC Lens, but any loan deal would require Juventus to cover a significant portion of his salary.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceJuventus are trying to offload flop Lois Openda, but after a Coventry City approach , his old club RC Lens are eager to bring him back, with one significant problem.
The Belgium international was a costly disaster on the transfer market last summer, signed from RB Leipzig on loan for €3.25m with an obligation to buy at the end of the season for a further €42.75m plus add-ons.
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 03: Lois Openda of Juventus looks dejected following the Serie A match between Juventus FC and US Lecce at on January 03, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) Had it only been an option and not an obligation, the Bianconeri certainly would not have made the move permanent after a pitiful two goals in 34 competitive games.
Openda not wanted by Juventus VERONA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 20: Lois Openda of Juventus FC enters the pitch the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and Juventus FC at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on September 20, 2025 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images) Now Juve are trying to find someone to take Openda off their hands, and Footmercato in France point to one of his former clubs, RC Lens.
He played there in the 2022-23 season, impressing so much with 21 goals and four assists in 38 games that he earned an immediate €40m transfer to RB Leipzig.
The idea would be for RC Lens to bring him back in on loan, but the source warns that in order to make it work, Juventus would have to cover a large portion of his wages.
Unlike Juve, RC Lens have qualified for the Champions League this term, so can give him the chance to play regularly at the top level.
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What happened
Lois Openda, currently at Juventus, is reportedly willing to return to his former club RC Lens. However, the financial terms of any potential move present a major obstacle. Juventus would need to shoulder a large share of Openda's salary to facilitate a loan back to the French club, making the deal complicated from a budgetary standpoint. The striker left Lens for RB Leipzig in 2022 before moving to Juventus, and a return would depend on both clubs agreeing on financial terms.
Chance analysis
This is a potential squad-clearing move for Juventus, who appear keen to offload Openda's wages. From a prediction standpoint, Openda's potential departure would marginally weaken Juventus' attacking depth but free up salary budget. For RC Lens, a motivated Openda could be a significant boost in Ligue 1, though the financial structure makes this a complex deal rather than a straightforward loan.
If completed, Juventus would reduce wage burden but lose squad depth in attack; RC Lens would gain a proven Ligue 1-level striker if they can finalize terms.
Monitor whether the loan materializes — if Openda leaves, Juventus' attacking options narrow slightly; if he stays, his limited role continues.