- Sunderland have agreed a €30m deal plus €5m in add-ons for Lyon winger Malick Fofana, with Arsenal previously interested in the Belgian.
Sunderland have reached a verbal agreement with Lyon to sign Belgian winger Malick Fofana for €30 million plus €5m in add-ons, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic. Arsenal had also been interested in the 21-year-old but was reluctant to meet Lyon's €35m–€40m valuation.
Why Sunderland prioritised Fofana
Marseille winger Igor Paixão was also on the list of Sunderland for the left winger role, but in the last hours they were concentrated on the Fofana deal after Marseille was not responding to the bid sent by the Black Cats. Lyon's elimination from the Champions League qualifiers also helped create the conditions for a potential deal.
Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris needed a priority addition for the left winger role, as they are going to participate in the UEFA Europa League this season after getting promoted to the Premier League only last year.
Fofana offers pace and Premier League-ready qualities
The addition of Fofana will be beneficial for Sunderland throughout the season; the 21-year-old is considered one of the finest Belgian talents in the world right now and has been able to attract interest from multiple European giants throughout the time with his performances.
He is a product of the Gent Youth Academy and debuted for the senior team in 2022 at the age of 17; later, he joined Lyon in January 2024 for a package of €17 million plus €5 million in add-ons. He delivered an impressive performance since his arrival in France; his recent performances and experience in the Europa League with Lyon will be highly beneficial for Sunderland. In the 2024-25 Europa League campaign, he scored 6 goals and assisted twice from 10 matches.
His development had a major blow by sustaining an ankle injury last season and getting sidelined for almost 6 months; however, he has gotten back to first-team appearances since March, but that injury cost him a spot on the Belgian national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Fofana’s pace and ability to take on opponents in 1v1 situations make him a valuable asset for Sunderland in the Premier League, as their playing style heavily depends on quick transitions, which gives a player like Fofana the environment to thrive.
Final paperwork remains before medical
Final paperwork is reportedly pending from the Sunderland side, and it is expected to be resolved in the coming hours; following the completion, players will undergo medicals before the deadline day