Olympique Lyon welcomes back Rachid Ghezzal with special homecoming

Olympique Lyon have taken their fans down memory lane with a special reunion, bringing back academy graduate Rachid Ghezzal.

The French side confirmed on Friday that the Algerian winger has rejoined the club on a free transfer, signing a deal until June 30, 2026.

Ghezzal, 33, is no stranger to Lyon. Born in 1992, he grew through the club’s youth system and broke into the first team in 2012. Over the years, he made 119 appearances and became a standout figure in the 2015–2016 season, guiding Lyon to a second-place finish in Ligue 1.

After leaving Lyon, the experienced winger took his talent abroad, turning out for Monaco, Leicester City, and Fiorentina, while also earning 22 international caps for Algeria and scoring twice. His most consistent years came in Turkey, where he featured in 370 matches across spells at Besiktas and Rizespor, tallying 42 goals and 56 assists.

The club’s announcement carried a warm tone, stating: “We are delighted to have Rachid Ghezzal back and leverage his experience to bolster the team’s strong start this season. We also look forward to continuing his career within the club after his retirement.”