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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.
Linked
⚡️Malick Fofana to Sunderland from Lyon worth in excess of €30m including bonuses ➕Player expected to sign a five-year deal with the option of a further 12 months @David_Ornstein @TheAthleticFC
First reported 2026-09-01 11:07 BST
Linked
🚨🔴🔵 Malick Fofana has completed his medical at Sunderland… and Crystal Palace have just sent a bid to Olympique Lyon! #CPFC try to hijack the deal by offering better conditions than €30m plus €5m add-ons offered by Sunderland. Decision to follow soon.
First reported 2026-09-01 12:49 BST
Linked
🚨 Arsenal weighing up move to sign Malick Fofana from Lyon before transfer window closes. 21yo winger on #AFC list + spoken to Mikel Arteta. Belgium int’l regarded as market opportunity after #OlympiqueLyonnais CL exit. @TheAthleticFC post @FabriceHawkins
First reported 2026-08-31 17:30 BST
Linked
🚨🟡🔴 As revealed today, AS Roma are working to sign both Malick Fofana and Rodrigo Mora - but will not proceed for Fofana until Mora verdict arrives from FC Porto. Negotiations are taking place with Fofana’s camp and OL as well. 🔛
First reported 2026-08-17 16:45 BST
Linked
#Galatasaray have shown interest in #OlympiqueLyonnais’ winger Malick #Fofana. First talks started. #transfers #OL
First reported 2026-08-14 17:45 BST
Linked
🚨 EXCL: Malick Fofana’s representatives have contacted Bayern Munich head of sport Max Eberl amid ongoing negotiations with #AFC over a potential move, communicating that the shooting star would much rather join #FCBayern and work under Vincent Kompany, with his camp making a final check on whether that opportunity could materialise before progressing with other clubs. The Belgian is highly regarded internally at Bayern, but the message communicated back is that the club are currently not in a position to pursue a move, having received no green light from the supervisory board to sanction a deal of the financial magnitude required.
First reported 2026-09-01 08:28 BST
Linked
🚨❌ Malick Fofana is not expected to join RB Leipzig unless something extraordinary happens.
First reported 2026-08-31 15:38 BST
Linked
🚨#Lyon Malick Fofana could leave Lyon tomorrow night for a significant fee. 📌 His agents have offered him to several clubs, including Arsenal. ❌ He rejected Hull City’s bid, aiming for a bigger club. 🔸Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe are preparing an official €25M bid including bonuses. 💰 Lyon need €50M from player sales. 👀 AS Roma and Sunderland also show interest.
First reported 2026-08-31 13:00 BST
Linked
💣 #EXCL - Tottenham made a $29M opening bid for Lyon's 21yo winger Malick Fofana. 🇫🇷 Lyon demand $40.5M, while AS Roma are also keen but lack the funds. @Ekremkonur @hooligan_soc
First reported 2026-06-17 17:29 BST
🚨#Lyon RB Leipzig are competing with Roma for Malick Fofana. 📌 Leipzig seek a replacement for Yan Diomandé and have funds after a major sale. 👀 Roma shifted focus to Fofana after failing to land Nusa; yet ankle injury concerns remain.
First reported 2026-08-09 12:26 BST
🚨 Malick Fofana joining Sunderland from Lyon for package around mid-€30ms including bonuses. 21yo attacker flying to seal switch on terms until June 2031 + extra 12mnth option after #SAFC & #OlympiqueLyonnais struck deal. W @MarioCortegana @TheAthleticFC
First reported 2026-09-01 11:11 BST
2026-09-01 11:11 BST · first post at this stage
STANDS🚨 Malick Fofana joining Sunderland from Lyon for package around mid-€30ms including bonuses. 21yo attacker flying to seal switch on terms until June 2031 + extra 12mnth option after #SAFC & #OlympiqueLyonnais struck deal. W @MarioCortegana @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/zGVGu8X4kM
2026-09-01 21:55 BST
STANDS🚨 Sunderland secure agreement to sign Malick Fofana from Lyon. Deal for 21yo #OlympiqueLyonnais winger worth €30m + €5m. Medical done - Belgium int’l scheduled to travel on Wednesday morning & join #SAFC on 5yr contract after hijack drama @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/AnckcKjZ3a
How firmly they put it, across 2 posts
🔴⚪️🇧🇪 Malick Fofana will sign today a five year deal at Sunderland. Final fee will be €30m plus €5m add-ons.
First reported 2026-09-01 11:21 BST
2026-09-01 10:45 BST
PLAY ON🚨🇧🇪 Arsenal will not meet €40m asking price for Malick Fofana, considered too high. Different structure/conditions or #AFC will move on. Sunderland remain in negotiations for Fofana with both player’s camp and OL. #SAFC are very keen on Malick, as @SkySports_Keith reported. https://t.co/psuPDhksqp
2026-09-01 11:21 BST · their first post here that counts towards the ranking
STANDS🔴⚪️🇧🇪 Malick Fofana will sign today a five year deal at Sunderland. Final fee will be €30m plus €5m add-ons. https://t.co/kbzEWkhUZW
How firmly they put it, across 2 posts
Malick Fofana joining Sunderland from Lyon for €35m. Winger offered to Arsenal and was discussed but there were major reservations from key figures about the signing.
First reported 2026-09-01 11:29 BST
2026-09-01 11:29 BST · first post at this stage
STANDSMalick Fofana joining Sunderland from Lyon for €35m. Winger offered to Arsenal and was discussed but there were major reservations from key figures about the signing. https://t.co/xBSnV25HxM
2026-09-01 21:51 BST
PLAY ONSunderland close to completing €30million move for Lyon forward Malick Fofana. Crystal Palace were close to hijacking the deal but winger’s chaotic move to Stadium of Light now in its closing stages. https://t.co/xBSnV25HxM
How firmly they put it, across 2 posts
🚨 BREAKING: Crystal Palace are trying to hijack Sunderland's move for Malick Fofana, as @lequipe called. Sunderland had been formalising the move, but now aware of Crystal Palace's attempts. More to follow.
First reported 2026-09-01 12:55 BST
Malick Fofana a un passo dal @SunderlandAFC: operazione da circa 40 milioni di euro. @SkySport
Translated: Malick Fofana reportedly close to joining Sunderland in deal worth around €40 million, according to Sky Sport
First reported 2026-09-01 19:21 BST
🚨 Exclusive - Malick Fofana has told Crystal Palace that he has chosen to sign for Sunderland. Unless there is another twist, he will sign for Sunderland. @RMCsport
First reported 2026-09-01 21:06 BST
🚨 Sunderland have submitted a Premier League Deal Sheet to complete the signing of Malick Fofana from Lyon ⏳ Still ongoing, but optimism the £31m transfer goes through #safc
First reported 2026-09-01 22:57 BST
🚨 BREAKING: Crystal Palace working to hijack Sunderland move for Malick Fofana. Pierre Sage spoke to 21yo in bid to sway deal for #CPFC on same terms #SAFC struck with #OlympiqueLyonnais; not closed but situation advancing @TheAthleticFC after @Santi_J_FM
First reported 2026-09-01 12:56 BST
→ citing Santi Aouna's report from 2026-09-01 12:34 BST
Crystal Palace are attempting to hijack Sunderland’s move for Lyon’s Malick Fofana. The winger had agreed to join Sunderland in a deal worth €35m - but Palace have made their own proposal. It is now up to the player to decide.
First reported 2026-09-01 12:56 BST
#CPFC trying to hijack Malick Fofana move to #SAFC. With @JacobsBen for @talkSPORT
First reported 2026-09-01 13:04 BST
🚨🔴⚪️ Arsenal have made official club to club approach with Olympique Lyon for Malick Fofana as Deadline Day deal. #AFC in contact with player’s camp Roc Nation and OL open to discussions around €40m package add-ons included. Deal on — after @FabriceHawkins. 🇧🇪
First reported 2026-08-31 17:32 BST
→ citing Fabrice Hawkins's report from 2026-08-31 16:45 BST
2026-08-31 17:32 BST · first post at this stage
PLAY ON🚨🔴⚪️ Arsenal have made official club to club approach with Olympique Lyon for Malick Fofana as Deadline Day deal. #AFC in contact with player’s camp Roc Nation and OL open to discussions around €40m package add-ons included. Deal on — after @FabriceHawkins. 🇧🇪 https://t.co/IYkbWyeNNV
2026-08-31 17:34 BST
PLAY ON🚨🔴⚪️ More on Malick Fofana: Arsenal are not willing to match €40m valuation, only proceeding if price is right. #AFC and Olympique Lyon are now discussing about formula of the deal. Malick, keen on the move. https://t.co/l8wWGFjsrU
How firmly they put it, across 2 posts
Far from guaranteed to happen but #AFC have been offered the chance to sign Malick Fofana from Lyon @talkSPORT
First reported 2026-08-31 17:42 BST
Arsenal wanted Barcola, but €145m was simply miles above our valuation. Malick Fofana could instead be viewed as the long-term Barcola-type solution: explosive, direct, comfortable carrying through pressure, willing to isolate and attack defenders, and capable of playing off either flank. At around £35m, the financial risk is considerably lower while retaining significant upside.
First reported 2026-08-31 19:09 BST
🚨🔵🔴🇧🇪 #Ligue1 | ❌️ Pour le moment, Arsenal ne propose verbalement qu’un prêt avec option d’achat pour Malick Fofana. 🔵🔴 Lyon souhaite/espère un transfert définitif de 40 M€. 🇧🇪 Le joueur, lui, veut rejoindre Arsenal. 🔴⚪️ Sunderland reste toujours présent dans le dossier. W @sebnonda
Translated: Arsenal verbally offer loan with buy option for Malick Fofana; Lyon want €40m sale; player wants Arsenal; Sunderland still interested.
First reported 2026-09-01 10:35 BST
2026-08-17 16:45 BST · first post at this stage
PLAY ON🚨🟡🔴 As revealed today, AS Roma are working to sign both Malick Fofana and Rodrigo Mora - but will not proceed for Fofana until Mora verdict arrives from FC Porto. Negotiations are taking place with Fofana’s camp and OL as well. 🔛 https://t.co/64jXMisTtz
2026-08-25 10:30 BST
PLAY ON🚨🟡🔴 AS Roma to decide internally whether they proceed or not for Malick Fofana deal. Agreement done since last week on personal terms and Fofana still keen, attracted by Roma. Decision up to the club — as OL asked more than €35m to let Malick leave. https://t.co/onuhBrIMqe
How firmly they put it, across 2 posts
Malick #Fofana ha preso tempo con due o tre club. Perché è concentrato sulla Champions e perché - come già anticipato - ha dato priorità alla #Roma. Conferme totale in queste ore di una pista svelata nelle ultime due settimane. Passaggio essenziale il crollo del cartellino (14 agosto) da 40 a 30 milioni più eventuali bonus. La Roma vuole fare due mosse offensive
Translated: Malick Fofana has delayed other clubs, prioritizing Roma; fee reportedly dropped from €40m to €30m plus bonuses
First reported 2026-08-17 19:23 BST
2026-08-17 19:23 BST · first post at this stage
PLAY ONMalick #Fofana ha preso tempo con due o tre club. Perché è concentrato sulla Champions e perché - come già anticipato - ha dato priorità alla #Roma. Conferme totale in queste ore di una pista svelata nelle ultime due settimane. Passaggio essenziale il crollo del cartellino (14 agosto) da 40 a 30 milioni più eventuali bonus. La Roma vuole fare due mosse offensive
Translated: Malick Fofana has delayed other clubs, prioritizing Roma; fee reportedly dropped from €40m to €30m plus bonuses
2026-08-25 23:06 BST
PLAY ONMalick #Fofana: stasera gioca poi… vediamo. Non ci sono certezze se non che la #Roma continua a seguirlo. E che l’OL ha bisogno di una cessione a prescindere https://t.co/CML1oRg3e3
Translated: Roma still tracking winger Malick Fofana; Lyon reportedly need to sell a player regardless, no certainties yet
How firmly they put it, across 2 posts
#ASRoma will have new direct talks tomorrow with #OlympiqueLyonnais to try to sign Malick #Fofana. #transfers #OL
First reported 2026-08-26 22:05 BST
2026-08-14 17:45 BST · first post at this stage
PLAY ON#Galatasaray have shown interest in #OlympiqueLyonnais’ winger Malick #Fofana. First talks started. #transfers #OL
2026-08-16 12:02 BST
PLAY ON#ASRoma have offered to #OlympiqueLyonnais €40M to try to sign Malick #Fofana, but #Galatasaray have offered a richer salary to the winger. Gala are set to wait for #OL’s Champions League Playoff before closing the deal. #transfers https://t.co/UdNvpSwdhB
2026-08-24 18:30 BST
PLAY ON#Galatasaray are still interested in #OlympiqueLyonnais’ winger Malick #Fofana. Reminder: Gala have currently one slot for the foreign players. So they can sign just one between him, Leao and Demirovic. #transfers #OL https://t.co/UdNvpSwdhB
How firmly they put it, across 3 posts
🚨#Galatasaray Galatasaray have opened initial talks with Lyon for Malick Fofana. 👀 Inter, Roma and Tottenham also interested. 💰 Lyon demand €40–45M.
First reported 2026-08-15 07:35 BST
🚨EXCL: 🔵🔴🇧🇪 #Ligue1 | ❌️ Malick Fofana a refusé l’approche de Hull City. ❗️ L’ailier de l’OL espère rejoindre un club de plus grande envergure. 👀 Intérêt de plusieurs clubs, dont Sunderland. Ses agents l’ont également proposé à plusieurs clubs, dont Arsenal.
First reported 2026-08-30 09:16 BST
Malick Fofana and deadline day’s most bizarre transfer #safc #cpfc
First reported 2026-09-01 23:08 BST
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