The 2025/26 season finds Olympique Lyonnais in a state of ambitious restoration under the guidance of Pierre Sage, the French manager who took the helm in late 2023 and has overseen a remarkable transformation. Les Gones (The Kids) have emerged from the darkest period in their recent history – a 2023/24 campaign that saw them languish near the relegation zone – to re-establish themselves as a genuine European contender. The Groupama Stadium, with its state-of-the-art facilities and passionate Lyon supporters, has become a fortress once more. This season’s squad reflects Sage’s tactical vision: technical midfielders, dynamic wingers, and a fluid attack that prioritises positional rotations and collective pressing. The club’s famed academy, which produced talents like Karim Benzema, Hatem Ben Arfa, and Alexandre Lacazette, continues to supply homegrown players to the first team. The summer transfer window saw strategic investment, with Lyon retaining their core attacking talents while adding defensive reinforcements. Below lies an exhaustive examination of Lyon’s first-team roster for 2025/26, organised by position, with each player’s journey, financial details, and stylistic fingerprints dissected thoroughly.
Goalkeepers
Lucas Perri
Nationality: Brazilian
Former Clubs: São Paulo, Náutico (loan), Crystal Palace (loan), Botafogo
Transfer Fee: €3.5 million (2024)
Lucas Perri has become Lyon’s undisputed number one following his arrival from Botafogo, the Brazilian shot-stopper providing reflexes, command, and distribution that have silenced pre-season sceptics. The 28-year-old’s shot-stopping (76% save percentage in 2024/25, 75% in 2025/26 to date) and command of the penalty area (87% cross-claiming success) have been instrumental in Lyon’s return to European contention. Perri’s distribution (88% pass completion), particularly his quick throws to initiate counters, suits Sage’s high-tempo transition system. Having started 30 league matches in 2025/26, keeping 12 clean sheets, he has proven remarkably durable. Perri’s contract runs through 2029, with Lyon rejecting January 2026 approaches from Premier League clubs.
Rémy Descamps
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Paris Saint-Germain, Tours (loan), Clermont Foot, Nantes
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2024)
Rémy Descamps has accepted a rotational role behind Perri, providing French backup depth, cup competition cover, and experience. The 29-year-old’s shot-stopping (73% save percentage in limited appearances) and distribution (86% pass completion) provide functional cover. Descamps started 8 matches in 2025/26 (cup competitions and Perri’s rest), keeping 3 clean sheets. Descamps’s contract runs through 2028.
Justin Bengui
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Lyon academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Justin Bengui has served as emergency third-choice option following development with Lyon’s youth setup. The 21-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
Defenders
Moussa Niakhaté
Nationality: Senegalese (French-born)
Former Clubs: Metz, Mainz 05, Nottingham Forest
Transfer Fee: €20 million (2024)
Moussa Niakhaté has become Lyon’s defensive leader following his arrival from Nottingham Forest, the Senegalese international providing physicality, aerial dominance, and tactical intelligence across two seasons at the club. The 30-year-old’s reading of the game—intercepting passes (2.5 per 90), cutting angles, covering for advancing full-backs—provides defensive security. His aerial duel success (86%) leads Lyon’s defence, neutralising target forwards and providing set-piece security. Niakhaté’s tackling (2.8 per 90) and blocks (1.3 per 90) demonstrate old-school defending. His partnership with Jake O’Brien has conceded only 1.05 goals per 90 minutes over the 2025/26 season to date. Niakhaté’s contract runs through 2029.
Jake O'Brien
Nationality: Irish
Former Clubs: Crystal Palace, Swansea City (loan), RWD Molenbeek (loan)
Transfer Fee: €6 million (2024)
Jake O’Brien has become Niakhaté’s long-term partner, the Irish centre-back providing physicality, recovery pace, and tactical discipline following his arrival from Crystal Palace. The 25-year-old’s aerial duel success (85%) and tackling (2.7 per 90) provide defensive security. O’Brien’s contract runs through 2029.
Nicolás Tagliafico
Nationality: Argentine
Former Clubs: Independiente, Real Murcia (loan), Ajax
Transfer Fee: €3 million (2022)
Nicolás Tagliafico has become Lyon’s first-choice left-back, the Argentine World Cup winner providing energy, crossing, and defensive aggression across four seasons at the club. The 33-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.8 per 90) and crossing (38% accuracy) created 5 assists in 2025/26. Tagliafico’s contract runs through 2028.
Saël Kumbedi
Nationality: French (Congolese descent)
Former Clubs: Lyon academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Saël Kumbedi has become Lyon’s first-choice right-back, the French youth international providing pace, crossing, and defensive improvement following his graduation from the club’s academy. The 21-year-old’s overlapping runs (3.7 per 90) and crossing (37% accuracy) created 4 assists in 2025/26. Kumbedi’s contract runs through 2029.
Clinton Mata
Nationality: Angolan (Belgian-born)
Former Clubs: Charleroi, Club Brugge
Transfer Fee: €2 million (2023)
Clinton Mata has provided right-back depth following his arrival from Club Brugge, the Angolan international offering experience and crossing. The 33-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
Sinaly Diomandé
Nationality: Ivorian
Former Clubs: Lyon academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Sinaly Diomandé has provided centre-back depth following his long service, the Ivorian defender offering physicality and aerial presence. The 25-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
Henrique
Nationality: Brazilian
Former Clubs: Lyon academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Henrique has provided left-back depth following his graduation from Lyon’s academy, the Brazilian defender offering pace and crossing. The 22-year-old’s contract runs through 2029.
Midfielders
Corentin Tolisso (Captain)
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Lyon academy
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2022, returning from Bayern Munich)
Corentin Tolisso’s return to Lyon has been an unqualified success, the French World Cup winner providing passing range, tackling, and leadership across four seasons at his boyhood club. The 31-year-old’s passing (5.4 progressive passes per 90, 91% completion) and composure under pressure enable Lyon to build play through midfield. Tolisso’s tackling (3.0 per 90) and interceptions (2.4 per 90) provide midfield security. Tolisso’s leadership, formalised as club captain, manages Lyon’s dressing room through professional standards and World Cup-winning authority. Tolisso’s contract runs through 2028.
Maxence Caqueret (Vice-Captain)
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Lyon academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Maxence Caqueret has become Lyon’s midfield engine, the French international providing energy, ball-carrying, and tactical intelligence across eight seasons at the club. The 26-year-old’s ball-carrying (4.1 progressive carries per 90) and work rate (11.7 kilometres per match) provide midfield security. Caqueret’s contract runs through 2029.
Nemanja Matić
Nationality: Serbian
Former Clubs: Chelsea, Manchester United, Benfica, Roma, Rennes
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2024)
Nemanja Matić, now 37, has provided midfield depth and experience following his free transfer from Stade Rennais, the Serbian veteran offering positional discipline, tackling, and leadership. Matić’s contract expires in 2027.
Rayan Cherki
Nationality: French (Algerian descent)
Former Clubs: Lyon academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Rayan Cherki has become Lyon’s most exciting attacking talent, the French-Algerian playmaker providing dribbling, creativity, and finishing that have attracted persistent interest from Europe’s elite clubs. The 22-year-old’s dribbling (4.6 successful take-ons per 90) and finishing (9 goals in 2025/26) provide elite production. Cherki’s creativity (8 assists) and close control unlock packed defences. Cherki’s contract runs through 2029, with Lyon rejecting January 2026 approaches from Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
Florentino Luís
Nationality: Portuguese
Former Clubs: Benfica, Monaco (loan), Getafe (loan)
Transfer Fee: €12 million (2024)
Florentino Luís has provided defensive midfield depth following his arrival from Benfica, the Portuguese midfielder offering tackling, interceptions, and tactical discipline. The 26-year-old’s tackling (3.1 per 90) provides functional depth. Florentino’s contract runs through 2029.
Jeffinho
Nationality: Brazilian
Former Clubs: Botafogo
Transfer Fee: €10 million (2023)
Jeffinho has provided wide and attacking midfield depth following his arrival from Botafogo, the Brazilian winger offering dribbling and creativity. The 25-year-old’s finishing (3 goals in 2025/26) provides functional depth. Jeffinho’s contract runs through 2028.
Mahamadou Diawara
Nationality: French (Malien descent)
Former Clubs: Lyon academy
Transfer Fee: Academy graduate
Mahamadou Diawara has been named among the substitutes in 2025/26, the 20-year-old midfielder representing the future of Lyon’s midfield depth. Diawara’s contract runs through 2030.
Forwards
Alexandre Lacazette
Nationality: French
Former Clubs: Lyon academy
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2022, returning from Arsenal)
Alexandre Lacazette has become Lyon’s attacking talisman, the French international providing finishing, hold-up play, and leadership across his second spell at the club. The 35-year-old’s finishing (16 goals in 2025/26) and conversion rate (27%) provide consistent scoring threat. Lacazette’s hold-up play (74% success receiving back to goal) and link-up with wingers make him invaluable. Lacazette’s contract expires in 2027, with a coaching role likely thereafter.
Gift Orban
Nationality: Nigerian
Former Clubs: Stabæk, KAA Gent
Transfer Fee: €13 million (2024)
Gift Orban has become Lyon’s primary attacking weapon following his arrival from KAA Gent, the Nigerian forward providing pace, finishing, and movement as Lacazette’s long-term successor. The 23-year-old’s finishing (14 goals in 2025/26) and conversion rate (26%) provide consistent scoring threat. Orban’s contract runs through 2029.
Georges Mikautadze
Nationality: Georgian
Former Clubs: Metz, Ajax
Transfer Fee: €15 million (2024)
Georges Mikautadze has provided striker depth following his arrival from Ajax, the Georgian international offering finishing, movement, and creativity. The 25-year-old’s finishing (7 goals in 2025/26 in limited minutes) provides functional depth. Mikautadze’s contract runs through 2029.
Saïd Benrahma
Nationality: Algerian
Former Clubs: West Ham United, Brentford, Nice
Transfer Fee: €8 million (2025)
Saïd Benrahma’s summer 2025 arrival from West Ham United added Algerian creativity, dribbling, and set-piece delivery to Lyon’s attack. The 30-year-old’s finishing (6 goals in 2025/26) and creativity (5 assists) provide functional depth. Benrahma’s contract runs through 2029.
Malick Fofana
Nationality: Belgian
Former Clubs: KAA Gent
Transfer Fee: €10 million (2024)
Malick Fofana has provided wide depth following his arrival from KAA Gent, the Belgian youth international offering pace, dribbling, and finishing. The 20-year-old’s finishing (5 goals in 2025/26) and dribbling (3.4 successful take-ons per 90) suggest elite potential. Fofana’s contract runs through 2029.
Wilfried Zaha
Nationality: Ivorian (English-born)
Former Clubs: Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Galatasaray
Transfer Fee: Free transfer (2025)
Wilfried Zaha’s summer 2025 arrival from Galatasaray added Ivorian flair, dribbling, and Premier League experience to Lyon’s attack. The 33-year-old’s finishing (6 goals in 2025/26) and dribbling (3.7 successful take-ons per 90) provide functional depth. Zaha’s contract runs through 2028.
Mama Baldé
Nationality: Guinea-Bissauan
Former Clubs: Sporting CP, Dijon (loan), Troyes (loan)
Transfer Fee: €3 million (2024)
Mama Baldé has provided emergency wide and striker depth following his arrival from Sporting CP. The 29-year-old’s contract runs through 2028.
Conclusion
Lyon’s 2025/26 squad represents the most balanced and talented group assembled since the club’s Champions League semifinal run in 2019/20, a testament to Pierre Sage’s coaching, the recruitment team’s intelligence (Orban, Niakhaté, O’Brien), and the academy’s continued production (Caqueret, Cherki, Kumbedi). The defence, anchored by Moussa Niakhaté’s Senegalese physicality and Jake O’Brien’s Irish composure, provides platform for Lyon’s possession-based, attacking system. The midfield, dominated by Corentin Tolisso’s French leadership and Maxence Caqueret’s energy, controls matches through pressing, physicality, and technical quality. The attack, headlined by Alexandre Lacazette’s finishing and Gift Orban’s Nigerian pace, carries genuine goal threat against any opponent. Crucially, Lyon has balanced immediate competitiveness with long-term planning; Cherki, Orban, Caqueret, and Kumbedi represent significant resale value while contributing immediately. The looming challenge involves maintaining Champions League qualification despite competing with Paris Saint-Germain’s financial dominance – and finally translating domestic consistency into silverware, ending a trophy drought stretching back to 2012. Yet the Groupama Stadium’s modern atmosphere provides a professional, intense environment. Lyon no longer hopes merely to compete for Europe; they expect to challenge for the Champions League places annually. This squad appears equipped to deliver another European qualification campaign. Allez Lyon.
