Olivier Létang plays down youth departures as Lille consider academy revamp | OneFootball

Several Lille academy products have left for Ligue 1 rivals in recent weeks, but president Olivier Létang has played down any alarm and indicated the club could adjust its youth set-up. After polishing talents such as Leny Yoro and Ayyoub Bouaddi, questions have risen about others breaking through elsewhere.

Attacking midfielder Jephthe Malanda, 18, has signed his first professional deal with Marseille, striker Kingsley Olufadé, 18, has done likewise at Strasbourg, and right-back Hugo Bayomog has joined neighbours Lens on a trainee professional contract. According to L'Équipe, club sources said the gap between the youngsters’ impatient expectations and Lille’s offers was significant.

Létang said the club move early on youth contracts, and that in these cases their belief in the players was not especially strong, so there was no absolute desire to keep them. He wished them well with their new teams and said time would show how they fare.

He added that a former tacit pact between French clubs not to poach prospects no longer applies, the landscape has changed. Lille, he said, will proceed on their convictions with people who trust them and share their values.

The French federation’s annual efficiency ranking places Lille’s academy 10th for 2025-2026, two spots lower than in 2024-2025.

The centre is led by Jean-Michel Vandamme, 66, since his 2021 return. Létang said the club will set out in September a renewed academy project and they want to be able to introduce youngsters at any age.

Source: L'Équipe