Tottenham Hotspur made a late attempt to sign Malick Fofana from Lyon on transfer deadline day, but the move ultimately collapsed. The highly-rated Belgian winger has been attracting significant attention, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and even Bayern Munich also circling throughout the summer window.
Malick Fofana rise at Lyon, Tottenham were eager to sign him
The 20-year-old has made a name for himself since joining Lyon from KAA Gent in January 2024. In just 18 months, Fofana has become one of the most exciting young players in Ligue 1, recording 16 goals and 8 assists in over 50 appearances. His combination of pace, dribbling, and end product has put him firmly on the radar of Europe’s elite.
Spurs were eager to add another attacking option after completing a deal for Randal Kolo Muani. They identified Fofana as a long-term successor to Son Heung-min, who departed the club earlier this summer. Before turning to Fofana, Tottenham had chased Manchester City’s Savinho, but City blocked the Brazilian’s exit, forcing Spurs to explore other options.
Arsenal were also interested Malick Fofana
Arsenal have had long standing interest to sign Malick Fofana
Arsenal tracked Fofana closely as they looked to add firepower out wide, although their eventual big-money move for Eberechi Eze reduced the urgency of a deal. Liverpool, meanwhile, considered Fofana after losing Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich, but they instead secured Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak to strengthen their attack.
Lyon stood firm during negotiations, demanding around £52 million for Fofana. While several clubs expressed interest, none were willing to meet the valuation before the window closed. That left Fofana staying put at Lyon – for now. With Everton, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, and Bayern Munich also admiring him, the Belgian star’s future is expected to remain a hot topic heading into 2026.
For Tottenham, the failed move highlights their determination to refresh their attack post-Son, while for Fofana, the Premier League interest shows just how highly rated he is across Europe.
