Official: Abdoulaye Faye joins FC Lorient on loan | OneFootball

The young Senegalese defender arrives from Bayer Leverkusen to bolster the Merlus’ central defense.

Official: Abdoulaye Faye joins FC Lorient on loan

Abdoulaye Faye has officially signed with FC Lorient this Tuesday, July 29 on a season-long loan for the 2025-2026 campaign. The young Bayer Leverkusen centre-back will compete in France’s Ligue 1 with the Merlus, with no option to buy included in the deal.

The Breton club confirmed this afternoon the loan acquisition of the 20-year-old Senegalese defender. Signed by Bayer Leverkusen this summer, Faye wasn’t integrated into the first team of the Bundesliga runners-up, who opted to loan him out so he could gain valuable playing time in Ligue 1.

It’s worth noting that the 1.91m Senegalese player isn’t a stranger to Lorient. Trained at the Diambars academy, Abdoulaye Faye already had a trial with Lorient’s reserve team back in 2023. That experience likely paved the way for his first-team arrival this time, after stints in the Swedish league with Häcken and then Örgryte. He joins his new teammates in Dinard for preseason training camp and will wear the number 25 shirt.

“FC Lorient is a renowned club in the French league that has seen many top players come through. This loan with the Merlus is a real opportunity for me to continue progressing in a top-five European league and within a quality squad. Being able to participate in the preseason camp with my new teammates is a great chance—it will help me integrate more quickly,” Faye said during his unveiling.