Midfielder Corentin Tolisso has signed for Lyon on a free transfer. The 27-year-old has struggled to avoid injury since moving to Bayern Munich in 2017. The French international arrived in Germany, having made 160 appearances for the Ligue 1 side. After falling out of favour in Germany, he returns to his old club on a five-year deal.
Midfielder Corentin Tolisso Returns to Lyon on a Free
🔙 Welcome back @CorentinTolisso ❤️💙#Tolisso2027 pic.twitter.com/FZZcAbjLH1
— Olympique Lyonnais 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@OL_English) July 1, 2022
Bayern Munich Midfielder Returns to France
Tolisso’s staggering injury record has resigned him to a part-time place in the Bayern side; he’s managed just 21 appearances in all competitions this season. What’s more, he’s played a full 90 minutes just four times in the 2021/22 campaign. The strength of Bayern’s midfield, coupled with the rise of youngster Jamal Musiala, has left Tolisso without a place in the side. The arrival of Ryan Gravenberch from Ajax will only increase competition for places.
The German champions had attempted to offload the Frenchman last summer and set a price tag of around £17 million. Juventus and Napoli were among a slew of clubs rumoured to be interested, but no bids were made.
Other clubs calling: @OL_English calling: pic.twitter.com/r3VwHyQOMK
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) July 1, 2022
He joins a Lyon side already bolstered by the return of former teammate Alexandre Lacazette. The striker joined on a free from Arsenal and was vocal about wanting to Tolisso to join him too.
Lacazette told a press conference, as quoted by the Evening Standard: “I’m also pushing for Corentin Tolisso to join.”
Tolisso and Lacazette were sold in the summer of 2017.
The side missed out on European football last season after a frustrating campaign which left them in eighth place. Head coach Peter Bosz will be eager to turn the club’s fortunes around, and adding experienced players to the side will help with that. Tolisso will plug the gap left by Tanguy Ndombele, who returns to Tottenham Hotspur after his loan spell in France. Lyon reportedly had an option to buy the Frenchman, but haven’t chosen to activate it.
