Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
After a dramatic Deadline Day, Sunderland got over the line with a deal for Malick Fofana, who had looked set to join Crystal Palace.
Sunderland are said to have agreed a deal with Lyon on Tuesday morning before Palace, led by Fofana’s former manager Pierre Sage, attempted to hijack the deal.
Lyon agreed a deal with both Premier League clubs, with Fofana taking a medical in France, which both clubs had access to, before he eventually settled on joining Sunderland.
The Black Cats have reportedly paid up to £30.8m (€35.9m) – an initial £25.7m with £5.1m in add-ons – with the 21-year-old signing a “long-term contract”.
Fofana made 84 appearances for Lyon in all competitions, netting 19 goals and registering two assists after joining from Gent in January 2024.
He has already scored twice this season in six appearances for Lyon in all competitions, with one of those coming in Champions League qualifying.
Sunderland Director of Football Florent Ghisolfi said: “Malick has all the attributes to thrive in the Premier League.
“He is a player with huge potential, and Sunderland will provide him with the right environment to continue to develop and prosper.
“He operates off the left and will complement the versatility of the other wide men we have at the club, who can play across both flanks.
“We are delighted to welcome Malick to the club and look forward to supporting him as he takes the next steps in his career.”
Sunderland also announced the surprise late arrival of Juan Riquelme Angulo from Independiente for a reported £5m. The youngster is said to have signed a five-year contract.
Belgium winger Malick Fofana joins from Olympique Lyonnais on a long-term contract! pic.twitter.com/1VGPDAhBBA
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) September 1, 2026
While Palace missed out on Fofana, they still brought in some new additions on the final day of the transfer window.
Dario Osorio has joined on a season-long loan from Midtjylland, with the Eagles having the option to buy at the end of the campaign.
He spent four years with the Danish side after joining in August 2023, going on to make 119 appearances and scoring 25 times across all competitions.
Ben Chilwell also returns to Selhurst Park, having previously played for Palace on loan from Chelsea for the second half of the 2024-25 season.
He lifted the FA Cup during that time before joining Strasbourg, but after one season, in which he made 34 appearances in total, he has returned to Palace on a permanent transfer.
“It’s amazing to be back,” he said. “It’s nice to see some familiar faces, and I’m just really excited to get back in, see the boys and the fans – and get going again.”
Strasbourg also brought in a new face, though, with forward Conrad Harder joining on a season-long loan for 2026-27 from RB Leipzig.
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