OFFICIAL: Olympique Lyon presents Thiago Almada as their new signing
Olympique Lyon, unable to make signings in this winter market due to their complicated financial situation, has secured the loan of Argentine Thiago Almada, world champion with the Argentina national team in 2022, for six months.
Almada's loan: A strategic move?
The 23-year-old midfielder currently plays for Botafogo in Brazil, whose owner is the same as Lyon's, the American John Textor. While Olympique Lyon has not specified whether the loan until June 2025 is free of charge, L'Équipe reports that it is. The operation has been approved by the French financial control body, making it feasible despite the club's economic restrictions.
Almada, who started his career at Vélez Sarsfield in Argentina at 17, boasts a solid record with 100 matches, 23 goals, and 24 assists over four seasons. His career continued at Atlanta United (80 matches, 26 goals, and 24 assists between 2022 and 2024) before his move to Botafogo.
In 2024, after participating in the Olympic Games with the Argentina national team, he joined Botafogo, where he won the Copa Libertadores in a final against Atlético Mineiro (1-3) played in Buenos Aires.
Thiago Almada has also earned six caps for the Argentina national team, scoring two goals. He was part of the squad led by Lionel Scaloni that won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, defeating France in the final.
