Nigerian forward Gift Orban is on the brink of joining German Bundesliga side Hoffenheim, signalling the end of his brief stint at Olympique Lyonnais.
Renowned transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reports that an agreement has been reached between the two clubs, though final discussions with the player and his representatives are still underway.
Hoffenheim, currently 15th in the Bundesliga, has reportedly tabled an offer of around €10 million, coming close to Lyon’s asking price of €12 million. This bid surpasses that of French club RC Lens, whose €8 million proposal failed to meet Lyon’s valuation.
Gift Orban, who joined Lyon from La Gantoise, arrived with high expectations, seen as a potential successor to Alexandre Lacazette.
However, his time at the Rhone club did not unfold as hoped. Over the course of a year, the Nigerian striker made just five appearances this season, scoring twice in a match against Strasbourg in August.
He has since struggled for game time, falling behind Lacazette and Georges Mikautadze in Lyon’s attacking lineup.
The move to Hoffenheim represents an opportunity for Orban to reignite his career and make an impact in one of Europe’s top leagues.
