Ali Maamar: Lyon eye move for Anderlecht right-back in €2.5m deal

Morocco-Belgium defender Ali Maamar of RSC Anderlecht is being linked with a move to Lyon as the Ligue 1 club assess options at right-back. The 21-year-old, who has a market valuation of around €2.5 million and is under contract in Brussels until 30 June 2028, has emerged as a potential target following his breakthrough in the Belgian top flight.

Maamar has established himself in Anderlecht’s first team after stepping up from RSCA Futures in January 2025. Operating primarily at right-back, he has already built up significant experience in the Jupiler Pro League and in European competition, including appearances in the Europa League. His domestic form has been notable in high-pressure situations, with a run of games in the Belgian play-offs in which he contributed multiple assists from defence.

Born in Brussels in March 2005 and eligible for both Morocco and Belgium, Maamar has come through the Anderlecht system almost uninterrupted since youth level, apart from a short spell at KV Mechelen and Lierse in his early teens, before returning to the Brussels club. Anderlecht moved him from their U18s to RSCA Futures in 2023, and then into the senior squad two years later, reflecting his steady rise inside the club.

Any move to Lyon would require the French side to negotiate with Anderlecht, who are under no pressure to sell given Maamar’s long-term deal and recent valuation. For now, the right-back remains part of Anderlecht’s plans and is tied to the club for a further two seasons beyond the upcoming campaign.