French club disappointed to lose their ‘great academy prospect’ to Chelsea

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Lyon confirmed young defender Malo Gusto has joined Chelsea for €35million and will stay at the French club for the remainder of the 2022/23 season.

It did not take long for the two clubs to announce the transfer after the 19-year-old’s reported medical in London on Saturday.

On their official website, Lyon confirmed that Chelsea will pay €30m (£26.3m), plus a potential €5m (£4.3m) in add-ons for Gusto, spread over the seven and a half years of his new contract with the Blues.

While Gusto will still be part of Lyon’s squad for the rest of this season, as a loanee, the French club still expressed their disappointment over losing such a talent.

“Olympique Lyonnais regrets not having been able to keep one of its great academy prospects but is nevertheless happy to be able to count on him during the second half of the season,” the club statement reads.

The France youth international made his debut for Lyon in 2021 before establishing himself as a regular starter last season. He already had 15 starts for the club this term.

He mostly plays as a right-back in a back four but is capable of operating as a wing-back as well.

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