Lyon, France – Olympique Lyonnais has significantly strengthened its squad during the winter transfer window, bringing in new talent to boost their ambitions in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Europa League. With the arrival of players like Endrick, Roman Yaremchuk, and Noah Nartey, OL is poised for a strong second half of the season, starting with their Coupe de France round of 16 match against Laval on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
Strategic Reinforcements for Multiple Fronts
The club’s strategic acquisitions aim to provide more depth and tactical options for coach Paulo Fonseca. OL is currently in a tight race with Marseille for a podium spot in the league and has already secured a direct qualification to the Europa League round of 16.
Coach Paulo Fonseca expressed his satisfaction with the transfer window, stating, “The club has done what was necessary to make our team stronger now.” He added, “We will be stronger.”
Key Arrivals and Their Impact
Endrick: The young Brazilian international has joined on loan from Real Madrid for one million euros, with OL covering half of his salary. He has already made a significant impact, scoring four goals in four matches. His presence is expected to energize the attacking line.
Roman Yaremchuk: The 30-year-old Ukrainian striker arrived from Olympiakos Le Pirée on the last day of the transfer window for 1.5 million euros, with a purchase option set at 5 million euros. Fonseca described him as a “real penalty box striker” who will bring a different dimension to the team. “We didn’t have this type of player in our squad. Very athletic (1.91 m), he is different from the others and will bring us a lot against opponents who play deep,” Fonseca explained.
Noah Nartey: The Danish midfielder, transferred from Brondby for 7.5 million euros, has already made a strong impression, scoring a decisive goal against Lille on February 1. Fonseca praised Nartey as a “quality player who doesn’t easily lose the ball” and “makes good decisions in the final thirty meters.”
Noham Kamara: A young player from Paris Saint-Germain, Kamara has joined on loan to reinforce the defensive sector, described by Fonseca as “a player for the future.”
Addressing Previous Challenges and Future Ambitions
These new signings address the challenges faced in the first half of the season, particularly in the offensive sector, which was impacted by long-term injuries to Malick Fofana and Ernest Nuamah. Martin Satriano, initially brought in as a backup, was loaned to Getafe after failing to secure a regular spot.
Fonseca highlighted the increased tactical solutions and improved team balance these new players bring. “This offers us new tactical solutions. It’s very positive. The team will be more balanced because we sometimes had difficult moments in the first half of the season due to a lack of sufficient options. I have no doubt, we will be stronger,” he reiterated.
Managing Player Fatigue and Upcoming Fixtures
With a demanding schedule of matches every three days, including their recent game on Sunday and an upcoming fixture against Nantes on Saturday, Fonseca emphasized the importance of squad rotation. Players like Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Afonso Moreira are beginning to show signs of fatigue and may be rested for the Laval match.
Nicolas Tagliafico remains unavailable due to injury, and Ruben Kluivert is also expected to be rested. “We need to rotate. We played on Sunday and we face Laval on Wednesday before playing Nantes on Saturday. We need to manage the situation because we have to be attentive to the condition of some of our players,” the Lyon coach noted, pointing to the intense calendar.
Looking Ahead
The winter transfer window has provided Olympique Lyonnais with the necessary resources to compete effectively across all competitions. The strengthened squad, combined with Fonseca’s tactical vision, positions OL favorably for the remainder of the 2025/2026 season.
Source: Ouest-France
