Zachary Athekame is set to join Lyon on a season-long loan, according to a report, as an agreement has been reached with AC Milan.
Ruben Amorim opted not to use Athekame against Inter or Chelsea, which is something that Gazzetta dello Sport pointed out this morning. Now we know why, as advanced negotiations were ongoing for a loan move for the 2026-27 season.
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According to Fabrice Hawkins of RMC Sport, Lyon have reached an agreement with Milan for the signing of the Swiss international on a season-long loan (not paid). There will be no buy-out clause included in the deal, and the salary will be covered by the French side.
Playing time pursuit
Given the formula of the deal, it’s clear that the Rossoneri are loaning him out for playing time. Alexis Saelemaekers is the starter on the right as far as Amorim is concerned, and lately he has also been testing Samuel Chukwueze in that role.
In other words, there wouldn’t have been any space for Athekame (or very little at least), and a loan move thus makes a lot of sense. Depending on how he performs, Lyon might open talks over a permanent deal next summer, but only time will tell on that one.
David Odogu is the other player who wasn’t used against Inter or Chelsea, so maybe he’s heading for a similar move too.
That’s where we begin? we couldn’t sign 1 RWB and now we are going for 2?!
Athekeme is better then Salemakers 😂😂😂
Seems this year same 5-7 place with 2 new managers
Agreed. This is a dumb move. Young player, showed promise , much higher upside than Saleamakers. And we don’t have a better rwb right now.
I think this is great, playing at a very good level and we will find out if has what it takes or not.
We have Alexis and Chuck to play there or my dream signing if we let go off Chuck is Dodo
Dodo seems bound to leave and a good shout, him and another RWB: Doue/Dedic/Cambiaso/Spence would have been nice but it seems highly unrealistic…
Tomori upgrade is inevitable, I think Inacio will be signed.
Leao upgrade is also needed… he will ruin the balance and Chukwuze is this budget older version of Diallo… I think RWB and RAM positions are the weakest atm for us… 2 of each would have been ideal, but never gonna happen
We all want dodo, so you can be assured we wont sign him.
This window is not over yet but so far the board has been unimpressive selling players.
On topic, athakame on loan prob a good move all round, hopefully he has a good season in ligue 1
Let him go and prove himself, we can use Salemakers and Musa on the right side,but Chukweze will be a mistake the club needs to sell him,even Terracianno is capable of playing on the right wing…
Wow. I though I can’t be surprised but they managed. So Chukwueze is playing RWB? 😀
Another dumb move. He and Saelemaekers are the only 2 players in the squad that can play as wingbacks on the right.
If you plan to have him back and not include a buy option, why didn’t you sent him on loan in your own league?
Chuck and Saele.
I guess because OL actually need players, so offer somewhat reliable minutes, and play the same 3-4-3 system as Amorim.
Musah will stay if this deal goes through…
How come we send athekame he is the only RB/RWB we have in our squad Salad is rubbish are they mad?
Ta Siya, ungowase Mzantsi wena! Mojo Msiyana
Its is good business he needs playing time
His value will dropped at 6 million after this season and he is very young.
Now is more clearly if Musah stay, Saelemaekers, Chukwueze trio for that wing back spot.
At least we have Gila to cover RB so I think with Saele and Chukwueze it will be OK on the right. Hopefully Athekame will do very good and we can have him and Saele next year and maybe move Chukwu up AMR (if he does well too).
We don’t play with RB and AMR, Gila can’t play as a right (wing) back.
AGAIN WITH THIS KIND OF STUFF. WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS?!?!?!
This is a strange move and not a priority at all. Of all the players to unload, they pick the only natural right-back who is coming off relatively good season. What if Chukwueze doesn’t work out at wing-back? What if the current system fails and we need to switch to a back four? I guess in an emergency situation we can call upon Cappelletti who did really well for the Futuro last season.
Excellent comment.
At first I was angry at this. But now I am happy about it. This is great for Athekame. Milan is absolute sh*t. Athekame deserves better. LYON IS BETTER. IMAGINE THAT. SMH.
I had him down as the best right back we have, but I guess we have too many numbers. He’d count as U22 for Serie A list too, but need registering for UEFA.
MN – Maignan and Rabiot’s returns to Milanello have been postponed
August 9, 2026, 10:00 PM by Niccolò Crespi
Source: Antonio Vitiello
see readings
Yes, because as learned by the editorial staff of MilanNews.it, the returns to Milanello of Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot have been postponed.
This is sensational news. In terms of timing, also out of respect for the club, and likely due to the delicate start of the season. Yes, because as MilanNews.it has learned, Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot’s returns to Milanello have been postponed. The French players, fresh from the World Cup in America, are still on vacation, having been scheduled to return to Italy on August 12th. Needless to say, the two will return to AC Milan from the 16th onwards, and on the 23rd they will play their league opener away to Torino. In terms of timing, this isn’t good news.
By Antonio Vitiello
Meanwhile Lautaro is already back for inter
Exactly.
hahaha i’m expecting Estu to go not Atekhame, i believe Ate can play better even as LWB than Estu but maybe he play like Roberto Carlos at training i don’t know
Not too long ago we were reading about how undervalued he is with stats comparable to Palestra.
Now we’re left with Chuk and potentially Musah playing right wingback while Saele occupies the left side.
This will be short lived for Amorim.
Athekame being looked after by fonseca.
Stupidnan is the one management should sell ASAP.
He has good long range shoot. Maybe can use for secret milan weapon…
One of few good things of last season is this kid. What a weird decision.
LMAO!!! Unpaid loan… we’re literally sending them away for free. Hahaha epic.
Milan is beyond cooked. He was one of the only promising things last season. At least he will have playing time but when inevitably Chuk doesn’t work, we will have Noone left.
Actually, I can get it if they want to sign a rwb (or really play chukwu there). Athekame is almost the first theam quality, one year in lion where he might get lot of playing time doesnt looks bad, and next season we might have a quality starting rwb for free.
You never know the whole story. He will not be a starter, maybe at this point of his career he is not comfortable with that. He had a good season so demand is big – I can understand this decision from his perspective. In the end it might very well benefit Milan as well, because he can play a lot.
Bizarre decision – this season he should get plenty of playing time for us, not Lyon!