Fekir Injury Blow: Lyon Rule Out Immediate Replacement
Olympique Lyonnais have confirmed that they will not sign a replacement for Nabil Fekir, who is set to miss six months after suffering a serious knee injury while on international duty with France.
The 22-year-old forward, who has enjoyed a stellar start to the Ligue 1 season with four goals in four matches, tore his cruciate ligaments just 14 minutes into his first start for the national team against Portugal. The injury comes as a significant setback for both club and country.
Despite Fekir’s absence, OL president Jean-Michel Aulas says the club will not rush into the transfer market.
“The rules are not in our favor,” Aulas explained on Saturday. “Any potential signing at this stage would not be eligible to play in the Champions League. He could only participate in Ligue 1. That’s our first observation.”
Instead, Aulas has placed his faith in Lyon’s current squad and its emerging young talents.
“We spoke with Hubert [Fournier], Bernard [Lacombe], and Florian [Maurice], and we all agreed—we trust the group,” said Aulas. “We have Alex [Lacazette] and Claudio [Beauvue]. Maxwel [Cornet] is impressing everyone, and there’s also Aldo [Kalulu].”
He added: “Bringing in an extra player now, while Nabil is preparing for surgery, may not have the desired effect. This could be a great opportunity for our younger players to step up.”
Aulas also expressed strong support for Lacazette, who has yet to find his best form this season: “I have great confidence in Alex. This is a chance for him to rise to the occasion. It’s time to rediscover the great Lacazette.”
Fekir is expected to undergo surgery on Monday, with a return not anticipated before early spring. His injury poses a significant blow to Lyon’s domestic and European ambitions, but the club’s leadership appears committed to internal solutions rather than external signings.
