Senegalese winger Souleymane Faye is on the verge of joining French side FC Lorient after Sporting CP and the Ligue 1 club reportedly reached an agreement over his transfer.
The move, which has yet to be officially confirmed by Lorient, is expected to see the 23-year-old leave Portugal in search of more regular first-team football after a limited spell with Sporting.
According to reports, the transfer will be completed as a season-long loan with an option to buy, with an official announcement expected in the coming days.
The agreement represents another important step in the career of the Senegal international, who is preparing for a fresh challenge after struggling for consistent opportunities at one of Portugal’s biggest clubs.
Reports indicate that Lorient have agreed terms with Sporting CP and are now finalising the arrival of the winger ahead of the new campaign.
The deal is understood to include an option to make the transfer permanent at the end of the loan, giving the French club the opportunity to retain the player should he impress during his stay.
The reported transaction is valued at €6.5 million.
For Faye, the switch offers the chance to relaunch his career after finding playing time difficult to secure in Lisbon.
During his time at Sporting CP, the Senegalese winger made seven first-team appearances.
His outings included two appearances in the UEFA Champions League and five in the Portuguese Liga, although each of those came from the substitutes’ bench.
Despite gaining experience in European football, he was unable to establish himself as a regular starter in Sporting’s senior squad.
A move to Lorient could therefore provide the continuity and minutes needed to continue his development at the highest level.
Before joining Sporting, Faye also spent part of his career with Spanish club Granada, adding experience in another of Europe’s leading football nations.
Those experiences across Spain and Portugal have helped shape the versatile attacker, who is now preparing for another chapter in France should the deal be completed.
The transfer also highlights the continued movement of Senegalese players across Europe’s major leagues.
In recent years, footballers from Senegal have become increasingly influential in France, Portugal, England and elsewhere, with clubs regularly looking to the West African nation for talented young players capable of making an immediate impact.
For Lorient, the reported agreement reflects the club’s intention to strengthen its attacking options ahead of the new season.
While the club has not yet announced the signing officially, bringing in a player with Champions League experience, despite his limited minutes, would add further depth and competition to the squad.
The structure of the deal also reduces immediate financial risk, allowing Lorient to evaluate the player’s contribution before deciding whether to activate the purchase option.
