Paulo Fonseca says Olympique Lyonnais are satisfied with their summer transfer window after Malick Fofana’s departure to Sunderland and the arrival of Keito Nakamura from Reims.
Fonseca had hoped the transfer window would close quickly so Lyon could concentrate on their football, but the club became one of the main talking points of the market during its final days.
“I wish the transfer window would close immediately, because we need to stay calm and focus on our work.” Fonseca said last Saturday after the 1-1 draw against HAC.
Several players who were not part of Fonseca’s plans left the club. Duje Caleta-Car joined Sassuolo on loan, Mahamadou Diawara moved to Red Star Belgrade on loan, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles completed a transfer to Everton.
Tagliafico was linked with Juventus and Atletico Madrid, although neither move was completed. The most protracted negotiations involved Belgium winger Malick Fofana, who agreed terms with both Sunderland and Crystal Palace before opting to join Sunderland after talks lasting several days.
Fofana had not initially been expected to leave, and his departure was not anticipated immediately after Afonso Moreira moved on. However, Lyon’s elimination from the Champions League changed the club’s plans and led to the decision to sell the winger.
Fonseca said: “I am satisfied. We knew we had to sell players, and Malick Fofana was the most likely candidate to leave. We worked well and brought in a good replacement for that position. As for Ainsley Maitland-Niles, we also knew he might leave, and there were other players in the squad capable of playing in that role.”
The former Lille coach acknowledged the difficulties surrounding the final day of the window but said Lyon had prepared for the possibility of losing important players.
“The final day of the transfer window was difficult, particularly with Malick Fofana’s situation. However, once on the pitch, none of this matters. The club needed to sell players. As a coach, I don’t know all the details. Sometimes negotiations simply drag on. My role is to understand the club’s needs. The most important thing is to anticipate such possibilities in advance, and the club did very well on that front. The transfer window is closed, and the players know we will now pursue good results with this group. These past few days have certainly not been easy for them, but now we can refocus entirely on football. The team shows strong commitment and trains very well; everyone is focused on the next match.”
Nakamura joined Lyon from Reims on loan with an option to buy yesterday. Fonseca believes the Japan international will offer a different attacking profile to Fofana and expects his team to adapt its approach.
“They’re different players. Malick Fofana is very strong in one-on-one situations and very quick. Keito Nakamura excels at decision-making in the final third and is more comfortable with combination play. He scored many goals for Reims last season. These two have different styles, but Keito Nakamura is very efficient. Our attacking intentions won’t change. However, we need to adjust our overall playing style. With Malick Fofana, we created one-on-one situations for him. Keito Nakamura thrives on combination and link-up play; the players need to stay closer together.”
Nakamura will not be available for Lyon’s match against Auxerre tomorrow at 19:00. Duranville will also miss the game because of injury.
Despite the changes to his squad, Fonseca said he was pleased with the group available to him and believes it is better balanced than last season.
“This team is more balanced than last season and offers more options. I also feel the team is stronger, both mentally and physically. We signed players with strong personalities and mental resilience, such as Bahloul, Bistrup, Atikem, and Boudache. The key difference lies in that balance and the team’s overall mental stability.”
Fonseca also discussed how he will combine the club’s new arrivals with its young players while maintaining Lyon’s attacking identity.
“When new players arrive, we must consider their characteristics and place them in suitable positions. This doesn’t change our approach: we want to maintain our team style of attacking football while defending well. As a coach, I must understand everyone’s strengths and make adjustments accordingly. I believe in all players, especially the young ones. We fielded several young players in the first match, and given the fixture schedule, they will get more opportunities. I can fully trust them. I also saw this week that we are one of the teams giving the most playing time to U21 players. However, experience remains important. Some matches suit young players better, while others require more experienced players. As a coach, I must choose the right moment. In matches like against Fenerbahce, with such intensity, I also need to protect them. They may be tactically ready, but mentally it’s different.”
After a summer featuring several significant departures, Lyon now have what Fonseca considers a complete squad as they prepare for their next challenges.
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