Zachary Athekame joins Lyon on season-long loan from AC Milan with no buy option | OneFootball

Olympique Lyonnais announced on Friday that Zachary Athekame has joined on a season-long loan from AC Milan, with no option to buy.

The 21-year-old Swiss right-back delivered a full campaign for Milan last season, playing 27 matches with two goals and two assists. He is a youth international and received a senior call-up in 2025 without making an appearance.

Lyon turned to the former Young Boys Bern defender. Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been inconsistent, jeered then on target on Tuesday against Sparta Prague in a 3-0 win, while Steeve Kango is only 19.

Athekame remains under contract at Milan until June 2030 and was seeking more regular minutes.

He will not feature in Lyon’s Champions League play-off with Fenerbahçe, first leg on Tuesday at 21:00 in Türkiye, nor the return. The UEFA registration deadline passed on Thursday at 23:59.

Source: L'Équipe

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