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Done deal: Olympique Lyonnais to Sunderland, ANNOUNCED BY THE CLUB at 00:10 BST on 2 September 2026, fee 30m euros plus 5m in add-ons on a deal until June 2031 with a further 12-month option, confirmed 2026-09-02. Every club linked to this transfer, and who reported each stage first.
Agreed
🚨 EXCL: Sunderland reach agreement with Lyon to sign Malick Fofana. 21yo winger given permission to travel for medical & complete permanent transfer from #OlympiqueLyonnais to #SAFC. Paperwork stage for Belgium int’l to move on 5yr contract @TheAthleticFC
First reported 2026-09-01 10:46 BST
Agreed
🚨EXCL: 🔴🔵🇧🇪 #Ligue1 | 🤝 Malgré un accord total entre Lyon et Sunderland pour Malick Fofana, Crystal Palace tente désormais de hijack le deal. ⏳ Situation à suivre de très près.
First reported 2026-09-01 12:34 BST
Agreed
🚨Excl Arsenal are exploring a move for Malick Fofana and have made initial enquiries to assess the feasibility of a deal. @RMCsport The player is interested in the possibility of joining Arsenal. Not the only option for Fofana. Crystal Palace were in a position to reach an agreement with Lyon, but the winger does not want to join the club.
First reported 2026-08-31 16:45 BST
Agreed
🚨🟡🔴 After Rodrigo Mora deal done, AS Roma will now decide whether they want to proceed for Malick Fofana. Fofana has agreed terms with Roma and now it’s on the club — OL are also waiting. Luis Henrique from Inter, another option on list. 🎥➕
First reported 2026-08-18 00:55 BST
⚡️Excl.:⚡️Sunderland reach agreement to sign Lyon winger Malick Fofana ➕Permission to travel to undergo a medical ahead of signing a five-year deal ➕ Arsenal were weighing up a move @TheAthleticFC @David_Ornstein
First reported 2026-09-01 10:48 BST
Sunderland have reached an agreement to sign Lyon winger Malick Fofana as per @David_Ornstein Our understanding is that Sunderland willing to offer long term contract.
First reported 2026-09-01 10:50 BST
→ citing David Ornstein's report from 2026-09-01 10:46 BST
🚨🔴⚪️ BREAKING: Malick Fofana now on his way to undergo medical at Sunderland, here we go! Deal verbally agreed — understand fee is €30m plus add-ons accepted by Lyon. Arsenal were never planning to pay €35/40m package. Follows @Santi_J_FM @David_Ornstein.
First reported 2026-09-01 10:50 BST
→ citing Santi Aouna's report from 2026-09-01 10:35 BST
2026-09-01 10:50 BST · first post at this stage
STANDS🚨🔴⚪️ BREAKING: Malick Fofana now on his way to undergo medical at Sunderland, here we go! Deal verbally agreed — understand fee is €30m plus add-ons accepted by Lyon. Arsenal were never planning to pay €35/40m package. Follows @Santi_J_FM @David_Ornstein. https://t.co/oX27br0Pvg
2026-09-01 21:10 BST
STANDS🚨🔴⚪️ Malick Fofana’s agents have just informed all parties involved in transfer-saga that the player wants to join Sunderland. Fofana, now set to join #SAFC as originally planned this morning. https://t.co/6UaIRtFWVJ
How firmly they put it, across 2 posts
🚨Verbal agreement reached betweenSunderland and Lyon for Malick Fofana. Arsenal were not willing to meet Lyon’s asking price. Fofana has permission to travel. The deal with Sunderland is now set to go through. @RMCsport after @David_Ornstein
First reported 2026-09-01 11:03 BST
→ citing David Ornstein's report from 2026-09-01 10:46 BST
🚨🔴⚪️🇧🇪 #PL | 🔥 Nouveau retournement de situation pour Malick Fofana ! 🤝 Après un accord avec Sunderland puis Crystal Palace, Sunderland tente de nouveau de hijack le deal. 😳 Incroyable scénario !
First reported 2026-09-01 16:17 BST
#CPFC sources believe they are likely to miss out on Malick Fofana. Both them and Sunderland have agreed a fee with Lyon. The Black Cats have also approached Frankfurt today re Jean-Matteo Bahoya @talkSPORT
First reported 2026-09-01 16:36 BST
2026-09-01 16:36 BST · first post at this stage
PLAY ON#CPFC sources believe they are likely to miss out on Malick Fofana. Both them and Sunderland have agreed a fee with Lyon. The Black Cats have also approached Frankfurt today re Jean-Matteo Bahoya @talkSPORT
2026-09-01 21:30 BST
PLAY ONEXC: Malick Fofana is closing in on a move to #SAFC. #CPFC had a deal agreed but wanted a fuller medical due to concerns over an ankle injury. Sunderland then came in with an improved package and player have his word to the Black Cats @talkSPORT
How firmly they put it, across 2 posts
2026-09-01 12:34 BST · first post at this stage
PLAY ON🚨EXCL: 🔴🔵🇧🇪 #Ligue1 | 🤝 Malgré un accord total entre Lyon et Sunderland pour Malick Fofana, Crystal Palace tente désormais de hijack le deal. ⏳ Situation à suivre de très près. https://t.co/jjKKosfCSD
2026-09-01 13:44 BST
PLAY ON🚨EXCL: 🔴🔵🇫🇷 #Ligue1 | ❗️Malick Fofana est désormais à un pas de Crystal Palace. 💰 Accord avec l'OL et le joueur 🔴 Palace est sur le point de hijack le deal alors qu’un accord total avait été trouvé avec Sunderland. Le discours de Pierre Sage a fait la différence. 🔜 Dossier désormais en faveur de Crystal Palace à moins d'un énième retournement de situation. W @DahbiaHattabi
Translated: Malick Fofana one step from Crystal Palace, deal agreed with Lyon and player, hijacking prior Sunderland agreement.
2026-09-01 18:51 BST
PLAY ON🚨🔴🔵🇧🇪 #Ligue1 | 🔄 NOUVEAU RETOURNEMENT DE SITUATION pour Malick Fofana ? ❗️Après un accord avec Sunderland, puis une tentative de Crystal Palace, puis un nouveau hijack de Sunderland… Crystal Palace revient à la charge et veut de nouveau hijack à son tour le deal. 📞 Dans l’après-midi, Fofana ne répondait plus aux sollicitations de Palace, puis ne répond plus désormais (pour le moment) à Sunderland. ➡️ Palace s'est aligné sur les nouvelles demandes financieres du joueur qui veut désormais lui faire passer sa visite médicale. 🤯 Dossier complètement fou ! Qui bascule de nouveau...mais jusqu'à quand?
Translated: Malick Fofana deal flips again as Crystal Palace matches his financial demands, seeking a medical, after competing with Sunderland
How firmly they put it, across 3 posts
🚨 BREAKING: Twist in the Malick Fofana situation. The player is currently in London. He was expected to join Sunderland but Crystal Palace are now trying to hijack the deal. Palace have reached an agreement with Lyon on a package worth around €37m. Pierre Sage has also spoken directly to the player to convince him. As reported by @RMCsport , Keito Nakamura is also close to joining Lyon.
First reported 2026-09-01 13:09 BST
2026-08-31 16:45 BST · first post at this stage
PLAY ON🚨Excl Arsenal are exploring a move for Malick Fofana and have made initial enquiries to assess the feasibility of a deal. @RMCsport The player is interested in the possibility of joining Arsenal. Not the only option for Fofana. Crystal Palace were in a position to reach an agreement with Lyon, but the winger does not want to join the club.
2026-08-31 17:36 BST
PLAY ON❗️The agreement between Malik Fofana and Arsenal should not be a problem. The English club have already made contact with Lyon, and if they reach an agreement, everything will move very quickly. Lyon are hoping for around €40 million. @RMCsport https://t.co/T5EisEUtPy
How firmly they put it, across 2 posts
La #Roma continuerà a seguire Malick #Fofana, non ha fretta di chiudere, soprattutto sapeva che fino al 26 agosto non ci sarebbero stati margini. Aveva e ha un accordo con gli agenti, ma per ora non affonda e fa valutazioni sul doppio ruolo da coprire
First reported 2026-08-20 13:13 BST
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Posts per day, last 30 days · in the news since 2026-06-17 · most posts: Fabrizio Romano (11)
