Mads Bidstrup joins Lyon from Salzburg on five-year, €10.5 million deal | OneFootball

Olympique Lyonnais have signed Danish midfielder Mads Bidstrup, 25, from RB Salzburg on a five-year contract. The club announced the deal on Wednesday evening. The fee is €10.5 million, with a further €3 million in bonuses.

He described the move as an incredible opportunity, praised the stadium and supporters, and relishes defending, taking responsibility and leading.

At Brentford between 2020 and 2023, his work-rate and aggression on the ball carrier stood out. Head coach Thomas Frank once portrayed him as a relentless presser.

A loan at FC Nordsjælland underlined his ball-winning and tactical awareness. Coaches there viewed him as a complete midfielder, aggressive in the right way, with the tools to become a top defensive midfielder.

In Austria from 2023 to 2026, he grew in stature at Salzburg, treating the shirt with respect and gradually taking on the armband. He was seen as a model professional.

During a difficult spell in 2024-25, he fronted up, addressing supporters and giving interviews to explain the situation. He continued to take responsibility the following season.

At 25 he looks ready for the Lyon challenge. The move is seen as a logical next step, with suggestions he had reached a ceiling at Salzburg and that Lyon offers progression without dropping him into a side where he might struggle to fit. Supporters should expect a warrior who thrives on the physical side, never gives up and always leaves everything out there, rather than a Messi or Mbappé-like technician.

Source: Le Progres