Sunderland have reached an settlement to signal Lyon winger Malick Fofana.
The deal for the 21-year-old is value in extra of €30million (£25.7m) together with bonuses.
He has been granted permission to journey to endure a medical forward of signing a five-year deal on the north east membership with the choice of an additional 12 months.
The paperwork over a transfer nonetheless must be accomplished however a deal is on monitor earlier than Tuesday night time’s deadline.
The Athletic reported on Monday that Arsenal had been weighing up a transfer for the Belgium worldwide, who had been on the membership’s radar and had spoken with Mikel Arteta.
This summer season, Sunderland — who will compete on this season’s Europa League — have added full-backs Thomas Meunier and Dayann Methalie to Regis le Bris’s squad, alongside midfielder Jules Ahoka.
Attacking reinforcements have additionally been prioritised with strikes for Marseille’s Igor Paixao and Manchester Metropolis’s Jack Grealish explored. Grealish is now set for a return to Everton, nevertheless.
Fofana has recorded two targets in six appearances for Lyon this season, netting within the second leg of the Champions League play-off defeat to Fenerbahce and the season-opening 2-0 Ligue 1 win towards Toulouse. He has scored 19 targets in 83 appearances for the French facet over two-and-a-half years.
Final summer season, Chelsea made a verbal enquiry for him and Everton held talks over a potential transfer.
Having represented Belgium as much as under-21 degree, Fofana made his senior worldwide debut in October 2024, his first of 5 caps. He scored his first aim at senior worldwide degree in September’s 6-0 World Cup qualifying win towards Liechtenstein, however was not named of their squad for the summer season event.
The winger emerged via Gent’s academy in his native Belgium, making his senior debut in July 2022. He went on to play 64 video games for the membership, scoring 5 targets and offering 10 assists, earlier than becoming a member of Lyon for €17million in January 2024.
The place does this go away Arsenal?
Evaluation by Arsenal correspondent James McNicholas
Arsenal had explored a potential deal for Fofana, and a dialog occurred between the participant and Mikel Arteta. Finally, nevertheless, Arsenal had been unwilling to satisfy Lyon’s asking value.
It leaves the Premier League champions trying considerably brief on the left-hand facet. They’ve bought Leandro Trossard to Besiktas and Gabriel Martinelli is predicted to hitch Al Hilal afterward Tuesday.
Up to now, they’ve solely introduced in Christos Tzolis. Time is operating out to supply one other left winger.
Eberechi Eze was introduced on in that function in Monday night time’s match at Villa Park. Maybe, ought to Arsenal fail to make one other attacking signing, Arteta plans to deploy the England worldwide on the left shifting ahead.
