Sunderland reach agreement to sign Lyon winger Malick Fofana

Sunderland have reached an agreement to sign Lyon winger Malick Fofana.

The 21-year-old has been granted permission to travel to undergo a medical ahead of signing a five-year deal to 2031 in the north east.

The paperwork over a move still needs to be completed but a deal is on track before Tuesday night’s deadline.

The Athletic reported on Monday that Arsenal were weighing up a move for the Belgium international, who had been on the club’s radar and had spoken with Mikel Arteta.

This summer, Sunderland — who will compete in 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 also been prioritised with moves for Marseille’s Igor Paixao and Manchester City’s Jack Grealish explored. Grealish is now set for a return to Everton, however.

Fofana has recorded two goals in six appearances for Lyon this season, netting in the second leg of the Champions League play-off defeat to Fenerbahce and the season-opening 2-0 Ligue 1 win against Toulouse. He has scored 19 goals in 83 appearances for the French side over two-and-a-half years.

Last summer, Chelsea made a verbal enquiry for Belgium international Fofana and Everton held talks over a possible move.

Having represented Belgium up to under-21 level, Fofana made his senior international debut in October 2024, his first of five caps. He scored his first goal at senior international level in September’s 6-0 World Cup qualifying win against Liechtenstein, but was not named in their squad for the summer tournament.

The winger emerged through Gent’s academy in his native Belgium, making his senior debut in July 2022. He went on to play 64 games for the club, scoring five goals and providing 10 assists, before joining Lyon for €17million in January 2024.