News Focus
- Caroline Weir signs three-year deal with French club OL Lyonnes after exiting Real Madrid
- The Scotland captain departs Spain as Real’s all-time record scorer with 63 goals
- Weir joins the eight-time European champions to pursue the UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy
- The 30-year-old recently scored seven goals in two matches for Scotland’s World Cup qualifying campaign
- She hopes to lead her country to the 2027 Women’s World Cup finals in Brazil
Caroline Weir has sealed a major career move to OL Lyonnes, declaring her ambition to conquer Europe with the French powerhouse. The Scotland international has committed to a three-year contract with the club that reached this season’s Champions League final.
The 30-year-old midfielder arrives from Real Madrid, where she spent four successful seasons. Despite becoming the Spanish club’s record goalscorer with 63 strikes, Weir never lifted a major trophy in Madrid. Now she seeks silverware with Europe’s most decorated women’s side.
“I want to compete for the biggest prizes,” Weir explained. “Playing alongside world-class talent and fighting for the Champions League is my target. The competition grows stronger each year, and I want to feature in the latter stages.”
Weir revealed that detailed discussions with head coach Jonatan Giráldez convinced her to make the switch. The former Barcelona manager outlined specific tactical roles for the left-footed playmaker. “We analysed my strengths and areas for improvement,” she said. “His vision for how I fit into the team structure made the decision simple.”
The Manchester-born star leaves Madrid with fond memories despite the lack of team honours. She also holds the club’s assist record with 40 goal contributions. Before departing, she received a personal message from Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham on a signed shirt, praising her professionalism.
Weir now faces the challenge of settling in Lyon, a city she compares to Edinburgh. She plans to explore Parc de la Tête d’Or with her dog and sample the local cuisine. “It reminds me of a French version of Edinburgh,” she noted.
On the international stage, Weir captains Scotland and recently inspired their World Cup qualifying push. She netted a hat-trick against Israel, followed by four more goals in the rematch days later. These performances secured Scotland’s place in the qualification play-offs.
“Taking Scotland to Brazil would fulfil a lifelong dream,” Weir stated. “Watching our men’s team succeed at the World Cup has shown how much the nation gets behind football. We want to experience that support ourselves.”
The midfielder will join her new team-mates for pre-season training in July as she begins her quest for European glory.