Sunderland have won a dramatic transfer deadline day battle with Crystal Palace to sign Malick Fofana from Lyon in a club-record £31m deal. The 21-year-old Belgium winger is set to move to the Stadium of Light after both clubs sent private jets to France to secure his signature.
Deadline day tug of war
On Tuesday morning, it had seemed that Fofana was heading to Sunderland on a five-year contract. However, Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage, who coached Fofana at Lyon and built a strong bond with him, attempted to hijack the deal. After a phone call with Sage, Fofana appeared to change his mind and wanted to reunite with his old boss at Selhurst Park. Sunderland, though, refused to give up.
Lyon found themselves with a bidding war and agreed improved deals with both clubs. Agents' fees and Fofana's personal terms were also understood to have risen accordingly. Two private jets, one from each club, sat on the tarmac at Lyon airport during the negotiations.
Medical and owner intervention
At one point, Fofana was reportedly seen boarding Sunderland's aircraft for a flight to Newcastle airport. In reality, he was headed to a private hospital in France for a medical commissioned jointly by both clubs. With time running out, this unusual arrangement was accepted as the only way the player, who had been targeted by Arsenal throughout much of the window, would reach England.
Sunderland's owner, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, flew to Lyon and spoke privately with Fofana, reminding him why he had originally been excited about playing for Régis Le Bris on Wearside. Shortly after 9pm, Fofana announced his decision to travel to the Stadium of Light after all.
Record transfer
The initial fee agreed is £26m, with add-ons expected to raise it to £31m. This makes Fofana, who scored 11 goals in 59 appearances for Lyon since arriving from Gent in 2024, Sunderland's record signing, surpassing the £30m paid to Strasbourg for midfielder Habib Diarra last summer. Sunderland have submitted a deal sheet for the transfer and expected it to be concluded shortly.
