Juventus have officially completed the loan departure of Lois Openda to Olympique Lyonnais, sending the Belgian striker to Ligue 1 in a dry loan deal worth €3.5 million with no option to buy.
The Bianconeri confirmed the transfer in a statement on Monday afternoon, bringing an end to a disappointing spell in Turin for the 26-year-old. Openda will spend the 2026-27 season at the Groupama Stadium, with Lyon covering his wages but holding no right to make the move permanent.
Openda's move to Lyon marks the conclusion of a difficult year in Italy. The Belgium international arrived from RB Leipzig last summer in a complex deal structured as an initial €3.25m loan with an obligation to buy set at €42.75m — a clause that activated automatically based on appearances. However, Openda never justified that investment.
Across 34 competitive appearances for Juventus, the striker managed just two goals. Only nine of those outings were from the starting XI, and his influence dwindled as the season progressed. In the final two months of the campaign, Openda made only a single brief substitute appearance, watching from the bench as Juventus laboured to a top-four finish without him.
The hope for Juventus is that regular playing time at Lyon will allow Openda to regain form and rebuild his market value. With no purchase option included, the Bianconeri retain full control over his future and could look to sell permanently next summer if he rediscovers the form that made him one of the Bundesliga's most dangerous forwards at RB Leipzig.
For Lyon, the deal represents a low-risk gamble on a player who, two years ago, was valued at over €40 million. If Openda can recapture his sharpness in Ligue 1, the French side benefit from a proven goal-scorer without any long-term commitment.
Sources
- Football Italia: https://football-italia.net/official-juventus-loan-openda-lyon-no-option/
