In an official club statement, Olympique Lyonnais have announced that they have been allowed by French football’s financial watchdog, the DNCG, to recruit players this winter. Les Gones will be able to spend what they have planned to in the upcoming winter transfer window.
Lyon are still bottom of Ligue 1 going deep into the winter period, but they will be able to reinforce their squad in January. The DNCG has significantly relaxed restrictions it imposed on Les Olympiens last July, limiting the club’s wage bill and transfer fees.
Lyon are set to invest €50m this winter
The new budget presented last Tuesday by John Textor convinced the financial watchdog to loosen its grip, thanks to a number of factors: the €94m raised by summer sales, the €53m promised by the sale of the OL Reign franchise to the Seattle Sounders, and the reported refinancing of debt, totalling €385m.
The club welcomed the decision and reacted in a press release: “Olympique Lyonnais has regained its budgetary flexibility thanks to the DNCG’s guidance on a new budget that has been revised upwards. Olympique Lyonnais takes note of the DNCG’s decision and thanks them for having listened to its arguments, which will enable it to regain its budgetary flexibility.”
Meanwhile RMC Sport report that a theoretical amount of €65m will be allowed to be put aside for transfers this winter for the side currently managed by Pierre Sage on an interim basis.
GFFN | George Boxall
