Sunderland land Belgian-Guinean winger Malick Fofana in €30m Lyon deal

Belgian-Guinean winger Malick Fofana has joined Sunderland from Lyon for €30m, completing a move from Ligue 1 to the Premier League on 1 September 2026.

The 21-year-old plays primarily on the left wing and is Sunderland’s latest addition after starting the season in France. Fofana is right-footed, stands 1.69m tall and was born in Aalst, Belgium.

Fofana made six appearances for Lyon during the opening stages of the 2026-27 campaign, scoring twice. He found the net once in two Ligue 1 outings and once in four Champions League qualifying matches.

His move to Sunderland ends a spell of more than two years with Lyon. Fofana joined the French club from Belgian side KAA Gent in January 2024 for €19.5m, having progressed through Gent’s system after moving from Aalst’s youth set-up.

Fofana’s early-season record included four starts in Champions League qualifying, where he played 78% of the available minutes. In Ligue 1, he had appeared twice and scored once before leaving Lyon.

The transfer brings a player with experience in both domestic league football and European qualifying to Sunderland’s squad. Fofana’s arrival also represents a significant move in his career, with the winger now switching countries and leagues at the age of 21.

He has previously represented Belgium and Guinea in his nationality record, while his listed playing role is left winger. His senior progression began at KAA Gent, where he moved from the club’s under-21 side into the first team before earning his transfer to Lyon.

Fofana’s career statistics include five goals in 12 recorded appearances across the Champions League qualifying and Ligue 1 competitions listed for his senior career, with two of those goals coming at the start of the 2026-27 season. His latest appearance record shows no assists or disciplinary cards in either competition during that campaign.

Sunderland have completed the signing of Malick Fofana from Lyon for €30m.