Portuguese youngster Afonso Moreira says Bayer Leverkusen are "perfect fit” after joining from Lyon | OneFootball

Moreira heads to Germany [Getty Images]

German club Bayer Leverkusen completed the signing of Portugal U21 winger Afonso Moreira on Thursday, paying Olympique Lyonnais €32m for his services.

Moreira enjoyed a tremendous breakout season in France with Lyon following a low-profile move from Sporting last season. Across all competitions, the 21-year-old recorded eight goals and eleven assists from his 37 appearances for Paulo Fonseca’s side, earning recognition such as a place in renowned magazine L’Equipe’s Team of the Season.

Reports emerged in recent weeks of Bayer’s interest, perhaps spurred on by their new manager Carles Martínez Novell, who arrived this summer having come up against Moreira last term while managing Toulouse. Moreira has signed a five-year contract at the BayArena, tying him to the club until 2031.

“I’m very proud and happy to be able to wear the Bayer 04 jersey,” Moreira said during his unveiling. “Right from our first conversation, I felt that this club was a perfect fit for my sporting ambitions. The club’s management have set out a clear path for me and won me over with their vision. For a young player, it’s incredibly important to know what the next steps in my development might look like, and that’s exactly what I’ve found here.

“Coach Martínez? I’m really looking forward to working with him. Given his Spanish roots and my Portuguese background, there are many linguistic and cultural similarities that can make working together easier. What’s more, he knows French football from personal experience. I’m convinced that, under his guidance, I’ll gain valuable insights that will help me develop further.

“I’m coming to Leverkusen full of energy and enthusiasm, and I’m ready to work hard for my own success and that of the team. The fans can rest assured that in every training session and every match, I’ll be out on the pitch for Bayer 04 with passion, commitment and absolute dedication.

“Signing this long-term contract marks the start of a new and very exciting chapter for me. My aim is to continue developing at the highest level, to deliver consistently good performances and to contribute to the team’s success. The Bundesliga and the Europa League provide an excellent platform for this.

“At the same time, I want to put myself in contention for the Portuguese national team with strong performances.”

Sporting will receive around €6m from the deal as part of a clause inserted in his transfer to Lyon.