Belgian striker Loïs Openda is poised to return to Ligue 1 with Olympique Lyonnais, one year after Juventus paid nearly €43 million to sign him from RB Leipzig. The 26-year-old is set to join the French club on a season-long loan for the 2026-27 campaign, with Lyon agreeing to pay a €3 million fee and cover the player’s full salary.
However, reports conflict regarding the precise structure and timing of the deal. While Sky Sport suggests the transfer will be completed within hours and includes an option to buy, Fabrizio Romano and other sources describe it as a straight loan without a purchase clause and indicate formalities will conclude early next week.
Serie A struggles
Openda’s departure marks the end of a forgettable spell in Italian football. The forward managed just two goals in 34 appearances across all competitions during the 2025-26 season, failing to establish himself in Luciano Spalletti’s starting eleven. The move to Turin had promised much after his prolific form in Germany, but the Belgium international never adapted to the tactical demands of Serie A.
The downturn in form had international repercussions. Openda was notably absent from Rudi Garcia’s Belgium squad for the 2026 World Cup earlier this summer, despite having earned 33 caps and scored three goals for his country. A return to French football offers the 26-year-old a chance to rediscover the goalscoring touch that once made him one of Europe’s most sought-after strikers.
Previous Ligue 1 success
The transfer represents a reunion with familiar surroundings for Openda, who previously excelled in France with RC Lens. During the 2022-23 season, he scored 21 goals and provided four assists in 42 appearances, establishing himself as one of Ligue 1’s most dangerous attackers before earning his move to RB Leipzig.
Lyon, now under the guidance of head coach Paulo Fonseca, hope Openda can replicate that form to bolster their attacking options. For Juventus, the loan arrangement provides immediate financial relief through the €3 million fee and salary coverage, while offering the player an opportunity to rebuild his value away from the pressures of Serie A.