Lyon is in trouble: it will be forced to sell its best players to avoid relegation to Ligue 2, as established by the National Control and Management Directorate (DNCG), responsible for auditing the accounts of professional football clubs in France. The cause is the club’s heavy debt which amounts to 505.1 million euros.
The words of the owner Textor
Lyon owner John Textor called a press conference, in which he said: “We have 29 players in the first team. Ideally we would need 23 or 24 players. There are six players too many, some have not left. Pierre Sage has to decide which player to put on the field, we have too many players.” About Rayan Cherki: “We lost 15 million euros since his sale but we obtained a longer-term contract (expires 2026, ed.). He has more value today than this summer. He should stay in January, but it will be his choice, as always in football “.
Then he assured: “We will not be relegated. Our shareholders have the resources. Nobody will allow the club to be relegated. We are very optimistic.” And again: “There is no possibility of failure, at all levels (sale of players, stock market, sale of Crystal Palace…). At the end of the season we will have saved more than 50 million euros in wages.”
The players who are worth the most and the ‘heaviest’ ones
According to the specialized site Transfermarkt, the players with the highest prices are the attacking midfielders Rayan Cherkiwhich in September renewed until 2026, and Georges Mikautadzearrived in the summer from Metz. Both have a price of 20 million. They follow the product of the nursery, Maxence Caqueret and the wing Ernest Nuamah who are worth 18 million, while at 15 there is a trio made up of the left wing Said Benrahmafrom the central defense Moussa Niakhatéfrom the left wing Malick Fofana and from the central tip Gift Orban. All Under 30 players, in many cases also Under 25 and therefore who can bring a decent sum into the club’s coffers.
On balance, the heaviest players by salary (source Capology) are Alexandre Lacazette And Nemanja Matic which cost Lyon 6 million each (gross), continues Nicolas Tagliafico at 5.5 (including bonuses), Said Benrahma at 5, Corentin Tolisso at 4.8, Anthony Lopez to 4.2 e Ryan Cherki to 4.