Lyon, France – Brazilian striker Endrick, on loan from Real Madrid until the end of the season, stated on Monday that his “heart and head are in Lyon where my goal is to play and win to return to the national team.” The 19-year-old forward, who will make his debut on Sunday in the French Cup against Lille, expressed his enthusiasm for joining Olympique Lyonnais.
A New Chapter in Lyon
“When Lyon contacted me to let me know they were interested in a loan, it was really important for my wife Gabriely, my family, and my agent, because I needed to play,” Endrick said during a press conference. He added, “Lyon? I told myself ‘Wow,’ it’s God who is putting this club on my path, in my heart.”
Endrick has had limited playing time at Real Madrid this season, accumulating only 99 minutes across all competitions. His move to Lyon is seen as a crucial step to regain form and secure a place in the Brazilian national squad for the 2026 World Cup. “My goal is to help Lyon, play, and win. And when you’re Brazilian, everyone dreams of going to the national team. Lately, I haven’t been called up, but I’m going to do everything to get back there,” affirmed Endrick, who has 14 caps and 3 goals for Brazil and was developed at Palmeiras.
High Expectations and Fan Enthusiasm
Matthieu Louis-Jean, OL’s technical director, highlighted Endrick’s potential: “He has immense talent and potential. He is fast and capable of making deep runs, finishing actions with his goal-scoring instinct. This is what we needed.”
Endrick’s arrival has generated significant excitement among Lyon supporters, reminiscent of the enthusiasm seen during the signings of Sonny Anderson in 1999 and Yoann Gourcuff in 2010. “I am happy to see this enthusiasm, these supporters who are waiting for me with jerseys to sign. It is also important for me because in Brazil there will be even more visibility for Lyon and Ligue 1,” Endrick noted.
Strategic Move for Lyon
Michael Gerlinger, OL’s general director, emphasized the sporting priority of the transfer. “We are convinced that Endrick is the element we were missing, and he will give strength to the team for the second half of the season. But we have seen that his image is so high that it will help us develop the club’s image,” Gerlinger stated. He further revealed the immense impact of Endrick’s arrival, referencing a record-breaking video: “We saw this with the video of his arrival, which broke OL’s record with 20 million views” on social media.
Endrick’s loan to Lyon is a strategic move for both the player and the club. For Endrick, it offers a vital opportunity to gain match fitness and impress national team selectors. For Lyon, it brings a highly talented young striker who can bolster their offensive capabilities and elevate the club’s profile both domestically and internationally. His debut in the French Cup is eagerly anticipated by fans and management alike, marking the beginning of what is hoped to be a successful stint for the Brazilian prodigy in France.
Endrick is expected to make his debut against Lille in the French Cup on January 11th. [lequipe.fr](https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Endrick-prete-par-le-real-madrid-a-l-entrainement-collectif-de-l-ol-jeudi/1630275) has reported that he joined team training on Thursday, January 2nd, 2026, after arriving in Lyon on December 29th, 2025. This move comes after a period of limited playtime at Real Madrid, where he only played 99 minutes in three appearances this season [eurosport.fr](https://www.eurosport.fr/football/ligue-1/2025-2026/ligue-1-mercato-a-lyon-il-va-tout-dechire-endrick-un-prodige-qui-fait-encore-saliver_sto23253296/story.shtml). The loan deal, without an option to buy, is valued at a maximum of one million euros [tf1info.fr](https://www.tf1info.fr/sport/football-ligue-1-l-international-bresilien-endrick-prete-a-l-ol-par-le-real-madrid-pour-6-mois-2414594.html).
Source: [flashscore.fr](https://www.flashscore.fr/actualites/football-ligue-1-mon-c-ur-et-ma-tete-sont-a-lyon-declare-la-recrue-bresilienne-endrick/dtR1RkqS/)
