France is shut. Saudi Arabia has until Sunday.
The French window closed on Tuesday night, which does not mean Lyon are done. Saudi Pro League clubs can still trade until Sunday, and Olympique Lyonnais have a squad they would happily make smaller.
L’Equipe report that Al-Diriyah have settled on Mathys De Carvalho as their midfield addition. Promoted this summer, the Saudi club have been buying like a side with something to prove: Enzo Millot from Al-Ahli, Adil Boulbina from Al-Duhail, Darwin Nunez from Al-Hilal, Idrissa Gueye from Everton, with Chancel Mbemba added to the pile.
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One million euros, three years
The numbers are small. Around a million euros plus add-ons, with the 21-year-old said to have agreed terms until 2029. Bruno Lage, the Portuguese coach at Al-Diriyah, is understood to have pushed hardest for him.
De Carvalho came through the Lyon academy and has 22 senior appearances since breaking through last season, plus 10 caps for Portugal at Under-20 level. Respectable for his age. Not remotely enough to guarantee him anything in Paulo Fonseca’s rotation.
Another name off the wage bill
It fits a frantic close to the window at Groupama Stadium. Malick Fofana left for Sunderland, Ainsley Maitland-Niles for Everton, and Keito Nakamura came the other way to patch the hole. Lyon have spent this summer doing accounting as much as recruitment.
A million euros for a 21-year-old midfielder rescues nobody’s balance sheet. Every salary removed still counts at a club under this much financial scrutiny. Nothing is signed, and the Saudi deadline lands on Sunday.
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