Louis Nganioni Signs First Pro Contract with Lyon, Heads to Utrecht on Loan
Young defender Louis Nganioni has signed his first professional contract with Olympique Lyonnais and will now head to the Netherlands in search of regular playing time. The 20-year-old, of Congolese origin (DRC), penned a three-year deal with the Ligue 1 club on Friday, marking an important milestone in his budding career.
Although Nganioni did not feature for Lyon’s first team last season, the club sees significant potential in the promising left-back. To help accelerate his development, OL have decided to send him on loan to Dutch side FC Utrecht for the 2015–16 season.
“Louis Nganioni is a left-back with a future. We are fully convinced that he can add value to FC Utrecht,” said the Eredivisie club’s technical director, Erik ten Hag, after the deal was confirmed.
The loan spell in the Netherlands is intended to provide the youngster with consistent playing time at a competitive level—a crucial next step as he looks to break into Lyon’s senior squad in the coming years. Nganioni joins a growing list of French prospects gaining experience abroad before returning to stake their claim at top-flight clubs.
