Orban admits to ‘difficult’ start at Lyon

• Published On: 14 August 2024 at 17:30

Gift Orban, a Nigerian international, admitted to having a difficult start to his Olympique Lyon career after joining the Ligue 1 club in the winter.

During an interview with Flashscore, the 22-year-old described his first season with the club as difficult, as he struggled to adjust to life at Groupama Stadium.

Following an outstanding season with Belgian club Gent, the Benue-born striker was signed by the seven-time Ligue 1 champions in January 2024 for a reported €12 million.

He only scored three goals in 16 appearances across all competitions, but the Nigerian's arrival at the club raised expectations.



Orban admits that he initially struggled to adjust to his new surroundings, but he now feels settled and ready to contribute to the club's efforts to re-establish itself as one of Europe's top teams.

"It was my first time at the club, and it was difficult to settle in because I was playing under a new manager and in a different environment," he remembered.


"Not getting many minutes on the pitch made things even more difficult, but this is normal in football. I will just keep working hard.

"The French league is tough and physical, but I have no excuses—I'm here to do my best. My relationship with my manager, Pierre Sage, is good because we respect each other.

Lyon lost 2-0 to Arsenal in Sunday's Emirates Cup match, but the striker stated that they were focused on having a successful season.

"We're disappointed with the loss to Arsenal, but it was a challenging match against a formidable opponent," Orban told reporters.

"Despite giving it our all, we came up short. That is how football works, but we have moved on from the loss.

"We'll keep putting in the hard work, as the main target is to ensure we have a great season."