Souleymane Faye poised to join Lorient in loan move from Sporting CP

FC Lorient have reached an agreement with Sporting CP to bring Senegal winger Souleymane Faye to the club on loan, with an option to buy understood to be worth €6.5m.

The 23-year-old is expected to join the Ligue 1 side after Lorient agreed to cover 100% of his salary, according to Foot Mercato. The deal is not yet complete, but Faye is close to becoming the latest attacking addition to the squad.

Faye is set to move to France only a few months after joining Sporting CP from Granada. The Portuguese club identified his attacking potential and handed him a long-term contract that runs until 2030.

His arrival would give Lorient an energetic and versatile option in the final third. Faye is known for his pace and technical ability, and can operate on either flank. Those qualities have made him an attractive target for the Merlus as they look to strengthen their attacking department.

Negotiations between Lorient and Sporting CP had continued for several weeks before the two clubs finally reached an agreement over the structure of the transfer. The French club will initially take the Senegal international on loan, while retaining the possibility of making the move permanent for a fee estimated at €6.5m.

Unless there is a late reversal, Faye will soon join up with his new team-mates at Lorient. The move would give him the opportunity to continue his development in Ligue 1 and establish himself in the French top flight.

Faye’s switch to Sporting CP came after his spell at Granada, with the Portuguese club committing to his longer-term future by securing him until 2030. He is now set to begin another stage of his career in France, having attracted Lorient’s attention through his attacking profile and potential.

The Senegal international’s market value is currently estimated at €3m by Transfermarkt. However, the proposed option-to-buy clause included in the loan agreement is understood to be significantly higher, at €6.5m.

For Lorient, the agreement provides an opportunity to add a young, adaptable forward without committing immediately to a permanent transfer. For Faye, it represents a chance to gain experience in Ligue 1 and continue his progression after only a short period with Sporting CP.