Lyon sell Jeffinho back to Botafogo | OneFootball

One of what could be many upcoming sales at Olympique Lyonnais transpired on New Year’s Eve.

The French club approved a deal for Jeffinho (25) to move permanently to Botafogo, the club he’d been loaned to at the beginning of January 2024.

According to L’Équipe, this transfer is valued at €5.3m. That money will go into the OL accounts, while they will also pocket 30% interest on a possible resale.

Both Botafogo and OL are owned by Eagle Football Group with American John Textor serving as the chairman.

In November, the French side was handed a transfer ban by The National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG), with Lyon also reporting a financial debt of €505.1m at that time.

The club’s wage bill is under close supervision by the DNCG, and the French side could face relegation into Ligue 2 if it does not improve its financial situation by the end of this season.

Heading into the new year, Les Gones are fifth in Ligue 1 and are already assured of at least a playoff spot in the UEFA Europa League, currently sitting fourth in that table.

Jeffinho signed with Lyon in late January 2023 for a reported fee of €10m, with his contract running through until 2027.

During his recent loan spell in Rio de Janeiro, Jeffinho helped Fogo win the Brasileiro Serie A title for the first time since 1995, while they also secured their first Copa Libertadores crown.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre