JS Kabylie sign Lyon academy graduate Yannis Lagha

Olympique Lyonnais have announced the transfer of 22-year-old centre-forward Yannis Lagha to Algerian club JS Kabylie, with the move completed just hours before the French transfer window closes on Tuesday, 1 September.

Lagha leaves the club where he developed to join JS Kabylie in Algeria, the country of his parents’ origin. Lyon confirmed the departure in an official statement as they finalised another outgoing transfer shortly before the domestic deadline.

The forward arrives at JS Kabylie having made around 50 appearances for Lyon’s reserve team. He was part of the Lyon side that won the Coupe Gambardella in 2022, a competition regarded as one of the leading youth tournaments in French football.

That same year, Lagha signed his first professional contract with Lyon. However, he did not make an appearance for the club’s senior team before moving on.

JS Kabylie welcomed their new signing after the transfer was confirmed. Lagha’s arrival follows a number of other late moves during the Algerian transfer window, with Samy Benchamma, Alphonce Msanga and Aly Abeid also joining clubs in the closing stages.

Born in Lyon, Lagha is eligible to represent both France and Algeria at international level. He has already featured twice for Algeria’s Under-18 side, making those appearances in 2021 while wearing the captain’s armband.

He has not yet been selected for Algeria’s senior national team.

The transfer brings an end to Lagha’s time within the Lyon system, where he progressed through the club’s academy and reserve ranks. His departure comes as Lyon complete business in the final hours of the French window, while JS Kabylie strengthen their squad with a forward who has experience of French youth football and reserve competition.

For Lagha, the move represents a return to his family’s country of origin and the next stage of his career after failing to break into Lyon’s first team. His record at youth and reserve level includes the 2022 Coupe Gambardella success and approximately 50 matches with the club’s second team.

JS Kabylie, known as the Canaris, have now secured his services as the Algerian transfer deadline approaches.