Roma drop Fofana pursuit as Hull City table new €35m offer to Lyon
Quick summary
Roma have walked away from their pursuit of midfielder Fofana, while Hull City have submitted a new €35 million bid to Lyon for an unspecified player.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceRoma have decided not to pursue Malick Fofana, claims Alfredo Pedullà, so Hull City have made a €35m offer to Olympique Lyonnais for the winger.
The 21-year-old Belgium international is one of several players who have been linked with the Giallorossi this summer, but their finances are limited.
They seem to be currently focusing on other priorities, including defender Leonardo Balerdi from Olympique Marseille, allowing Jan Ziolkowski to go on loan to Monza.
Roma have other priorities to Fofana BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – SEPTEMBER 07: Malick Fofana of Belgium runs with the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Belgium and Kazakhstan at Lotto Park on September 07, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images) According to Sportitalia transfer pundit Pedullà , Lyon asked Roma this morning to get into the negotiations quickly after already agreeing personal terms with Fofana.
However, they continue to remain unconvinced over the costs of the operation, and are in no rush to get a deal over the line.
CARDIFF, WALES – OCTOBER 13: Malick Fofana of Belgium takes on Neco Williams of Wales during the Group J FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Wales and Belgium at Cardiff City Stadium on October 13, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) Instead, Hull City dived in with a new offer worth €35m to buy the player, claim Footmercato , also having a videocall with Fofana to present their project.
He can play on the left or right side of a trident attack, and his contract with Lyon only runs to June 2028.
The Ligue 1 side paid €19.5m to purchase him from KAA Gent in January 2024.
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What happened
According to Football Italia, AS Roma have ended their interest in signing Fofana, with the Serie A club now looking elsewhere to reinforce their squad ahead of the new season. In a separate transfer development, Championship side Hull City have tabled a fresh €35 million offer to Ligue 1 outfit Lyon, in what would represent a major investment for a second-tier English club. The identity of the Lyon player targeted by Hull City was not specified in the headline, but the fee suggests a high-profile target. Both stories reflect an active late transfer window across multiple European leagues.
Chance analysis
Roma pulling out of the Fofana deal signals a strategic shift in their recruitment plans, likely because the asking price or contract terms did not align with the club's valuation. Walking away from a long-running target forces the Giallorossi to accelerate alternatives, which can create short-term uncertainty in their midfield planning. Meanwhile, Hull City's €35m approach to Lyon is remarkable for a Championship side and underlines the financial firepower of their ownership group, though such a fee will only be sanctioned if the target is considered transformative. If completed, the move would represent one of the biggest outlays by a second-tier English club in recent memory.
Roma lose a potential midfield reinforcement and must pivot to alternative targets, while Hull City's ambitious Lyon bid could reshape their squad if accepted.