Lyon Star Attracts Liverpool and Man City with €22.5m Exit Clause | OneFootball

Rayan Cherki Set for Summer Exit Amid Premier League Interest

Premier League Giants Circle as Cherki Says Goodbye

Tears often speak louder than words, and at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium this week, Rayan Cherki’s emotions told a story. The 21-year-old left the field visibly moved, following his side’s 2-0 victory over Angers — a result that may mark his final appearance for the club he grew up with.

According to GFFN, reporting on the words of Dahia Hattabi, Cherki “announced that he is likely to leave OL during the summer transfer window.” What underpins this potential exit is a gentleman’s agreement: “Cherki has a gentleman’s agreement with Les Gones that he can leave the club in the summer transfer window.”

The price? Set at a modest €22.5m. That figure has alerted a trio of Premier League powerhouses: “Le Parisien understands that Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur have all enquired about signing the France U21 international.”

Photo: IMAGO

Season Defined by Creativity

Cherki hasn’t just taken a developmental step this season; he’s made a leap. Often labelled a flair player with more promise than end product, the 2024/25 campaign has rewritten that narrative. “Creatively, no player assisted more than Cherki in Ligue 1, with 11.” That statistic alone places him in the upper tier of Europe’s young attacking midfielders.

But his brilliance extended beyond domestic duties. Cherki also “broke the record for most assists in a UEFA Europa League campaign.” It’s the sort of statement that turns heads at Anfield and the Etihad, particularly in a market increasingly shaped by data and decision-making.

Transfer Tug-of-War Could Suit Cherki’s Style

For a player who thrives between the lines, gliding past defenders with effortless guile, the Premier League may offer a suitable next step — if the fit is right. Liverpool could see him as a new creative spark in a post-Klopp rebuild under Arne Slot, while Manchester City may eye him as a Pep Guardiola project — technically gifted, tactically intelligent and tactfully versatile.

Tottenham are also said to be keen, though their project under Ange Postecoglou is slightly earlier in its development phase. Regardless, for €22.5m, Cherki represents something increasingly rare in modern football — a low-risk, high-ceiling acquisition.

Photo IMAGO

Lyon Face Emotional Yet Inevitable Farewell

For Lyon fans, Cherki is more than a name on the team sheet — he’s a symbol of the academy’s pride. Yet even they understand the rhythm of modern football. The agreement with the club was never about resistance, only timing. Now, after a record-breaking season, the timing feels right.

His departure, as bittersweet as it will be, will inject Lyon with funds and give Cherki a new platform to flourish. Whether that be under Guardiola’s structure, Slot’s transition at Liverpool, or Postecoglou’s expressive football, the next step in his journey seems imminent.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Rayan Cherki is exactly the kind of transfer that excites. Not just because of the numbers — though 11 Ligue 1 assists and a Europa League record certainly catch the eye — but because of what lies beneath: vision, invention, flair. All the tools are there.

At Liverpool, he could be moulded into the successor to players like Thiago or even play as an advanced No.10, finally giving the Reds a long-missing link between midfield and attack. His ability to drift into half-spaces and unlock deep blocks could be vital, particularly against the kind of low-sitting teams Liverpool often struggle to break down.

At City, he’s an archetype Guardiola loves: technically refined, positionally adaptable, brave in tight spaces. With the right coaching and patient integration, Cherki could flourish as the next Phil Foden-like project — even if not a starter from day one.

For €22.5m, there’s very little downside. Whether he adapts immediately or takes time, both clubs are structured well enough to ease his transition. And for fans, he represents more than just potential — he’s the sort of signing that makes you refresh social media for updates, dreaming of what might be.