Softfootball has gathered that French club Lyon will continue playing top-flight football next season after successfully overturning the financial relegation imposed by French football’s governing body for club finances, the DNCG.
The decision reported by the Athletic, confirmed on Wednesday, means the seven-time champions will maintain their Ligue 1 status for the 2025/26 campaign, extending their uninterrupted run in the division since 1988. The club statement read that:
“Olympique Lyonnais welcomes today’s decision by the DNCG to keep the Club in Ligue 1,”
“This marks the first step in restoring confidence under the club’s new management. We now look ahead to our sporting objectives and full preparation for next season.”
The DNCG had ruled on June 24 that Lyon would be demoted to Ligue 2 due to financial concerns, triggering a swift and firm appeal from the club. That appeal has now been upheld following equity injections from Eagle Football and the sale of Crystal Palace shares to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, a move that significantly improved Lyon’s cash position.
Lyon finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season, enough for a Europa League place behind fifth-place Lille. They have yet to make any major signings this summer but have offloaded Rayan Cherki to Manchester City for €40m and Said Benrahma to Saudi side Neom, who also signed former captain Alexandre Lacazette on a free.
An €8m deal to sign U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner from Nottingham Forest is reportedly in place.
Meanwhile, about the massive offloading in the freed-French club, Softfootball reported how one of Lyon’s youngsters, Malick Fofana, has caught the eyes of EPL clubs.
Softfootball understands that the 19-year-old has been linked with Liverpool and Chelsea over a summer transfer; however, the Red Devils may now be put on alert following the wonderkid’s Instagram story.
Fofana, 19, is a talented attacker who has been put forward as an option for several sides in the Premier League. He scored 11 times in all competitions last season, with six of those coming in 10 appearances in the Europa League.
