Thiago Almada confirms impending Lyon move | OneFootball

Fresh off Botafogo’s Intercontinental Cup exit, Thiago Almada (23) has confirmed his intention to come to Ligue 1.

The Argentine attacking midfielder, who just completed his first season with the Rio-based club, aims to join Olympique Lyonnais when the new transfer window opens.

In an interview with Cazé TV, Almada said: “When I signed with Botafogo, it was already planned that I would join Lyon after six months; that’s what’s going to happen.”

While the 2022 World Cup champion has made his intentions clear, transferring to another John Textor-owned club, particularly Lyon, might be complicated.

That’s because, in November, Lyon were hit with a recruitment ban by the Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion (DNCG).

However, amid mounting debt, OL were hit with a provisional relegation to Ligue 2, as well as a ban on signing players in January. Instead, they will have to sell in order to convince the DNCG to maintain their top-flight status.

Almada joined Fogo from Atlanta United in Major League Soccer (MLS) in early July on a five-year deal worth an estimated $25m, breaking the transfer record of both leagues.

In 2024, Almada helped Botafogo claim its first Copa Libertadores title, while they also claimed the league title for the first time since 1995.

Nearly two years ago, Almada became the first active MLS player to win the World Cup when Argentina defeated France on penalties in the 2022 final.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre