Lille OSC have announced that Mohamed Bayo has completed a permanent transfer to Turkish Super Lig side Samsunspor. The Ligue 1 club confirmed the move on Saturday, ending the 28-year-old striker’s two-year association with the French side.
Bayo arrived at Lille from Clermont Foot in 2022 but found first-team opportunities limited. Across two campaigns, he managed just seven goals in 47 appearances for Les Dogues. Unable to establish himself as a regular starter, he spent much of his tenure away from the club on loan.
His time at the club was therefore characterised by temporary moves. The forward first joined Le Havre AC, where he scored five times. He then moved abroad to Royal Antwerp in Belgium, netting only once during that spell. Neither stint provided the consistency or momentum he needed to force his way into Lille’s plans.
Turkish loan paved way for permanent return
Bayo’s fortunes changed during his loan to Gaziantep FK in the Turkish Super Lig. There, he scored 15 goals in 32 matches, a sharp improvement on his record in France and Belgium. The strong return made him an obvious target for clubs in Turkey looking for a proven forward.
Samsunspor have now acted on that form, bringing him back to the country on a permanent basis. The club will hope he can reproduce the same scoring instinct that made him one of the more reliable attackers in the division during his time in Gaziantep.
Contract details and reported fee
Despite having a year left on his Lille contract, Bayo has been allowed to leave. Neither club has publicly disclosed the transfer fee, but reports indicate Samsunspor have paid around €1.5 million for the forward. The early exit ends his time in Ligue 1 after just 47 appearances for the club.
The transfer gives Bayo a stable platform in a league where he has already demonstrated his ability. Samsunspor will hope the striker can carry his Gaziantep form into the new campaign and finally establish himself after several temporary moves.