Lyon - injuries & suspensions October 2026

Lyon begin the 2026/2027 season after finishing fourth in Ligue 1. They collected 60 points in the previous campaign, but the squad underwent several changes over the summer. The club also had to contend with a difficult financial situation that limited its options in the transfer market. Paulo Fonseca remained in charge, while the club’s decision-makers opted for younger players and extended the contract of one of the team’s leaders. Lyon failed to qualify for the Champions League league phase, however. After losing to Fenerbahçe, they were left to compete in the Europa League.

Fonseca continues his work

Paulo Fonseca has been in charge of Lyon since last season. Fourth place in the league was a respectable result, although the team did not always perform consistently. Despite failing to qualify for the Champions League, the club decided against changing managers. Fonseca has therefore been given another chance, but he will have to work with a squad that has changed somewhat over the summer. Major signings are unlikely until OL’s financial situation improves.

Fans were pleased to see Corentin Tolisso extend his contract until 2029. The Frenchman will remain one of the most important figures in midfield. He is expected to feature in that part of the pitch alongside Tyler Morton and new signing Mads Bidstrup, among others. With several players having left, Tolisso’s experience will be especially valuable to the team.

Changes in attack

The departure of Malick Fofana is one of Lyon’s biggest losses this summer. The Belgian moved to Sunderland, leaving the team without a winger who could speed up attacks and beat opponents in one-on-one situations. The club also sold Ainsley Maitland-Niles to Everton. The Englishman was useful because he could play in several positions. Afonso Moreira had also left Lyon earlier, joining Bayer Leverkusen.

Among the new arrivals is Keito Nakamura, signed from Reims. The Japanese player can feature on the wing or behind the striker. Loïs Openda has also joined the team on loan from Juventus until the end of the season. The Belgian is already familiar with French football, while his spells in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga have given him plenty of experience. His pace should help with runs in behind the defence. Pavel Šulc and Ernest Nuamah will also compete for places in the starting lineup.

New faces in midfield and defence

Mads Bidstrup joined Lyon from Salzburg. The Danish midfielder contributes plenty defensively, but his game is not limited to winning the ball back. Julien Duranville has also arrived in midfield from Borussia Dortmund. The 20-year-old has had a difficult spell recently and has been unable to secure a regular place in the team. At Lyon, his main aim will be to get more opportunities to play.

Felix Bacher, from Estoril, and Zachary Athekame, who joined on loan from Milan, have bolstered the defence. Bacher can play at centre-back, while Athekame features on the right. Young Japanese player Noham Kamara and Mohamed Ouédraogo are also in the squad. It remains to be seen how often they will feature, but extra options could prove useful with league and European fixtures to contend with.

Experience and youth

Corentin Tolisso, Moussa Niakhaté, Clinton Mata, Nicolás Tagliafico and goalkeeper Dominik Greif are still expected to form the team’s core. They are experienced players who will have a lot to contribute, especially at the start of the season. In attack, Fonseca can call on Šulc, Nuamah, Nakamura and Openda. The problem is that none of them can automatically replace what Fofana brought to the team. Lyon need to find a new way to attack down the wings, and the summer signings will need time to settle in with the rest of the squad.

Goals for the new season

Lyon’s aim remains to challenge for the top places in Ligue 1, although finishing fourth again will not be easy. Failing to qualify for the Champions League is a disappointment, while the Europa League means more matches and the need to rotate the squad. Fonseca’s priority is to find a way to make the attack work after Fofana’s departure and integrate the new players effectively. He also has little room for manoeuvre in the transfer market. A lot will therefore depend on the current squad and whether key players can avoid lengthy spells on the sidelines.