Orban set for Lyon exit

• Published On: 24 July 2024 at 20:00

Gift Orban, a Nigerian forward, may be leaving Olympique Lyonnais after only seven months with the French giants.

The 22-year-old has been linked with a move to another Ligue 1 team, Stade Brestois 29, who has apparently expressed an interest in signing the Super Eagles invitee.

After only a year with KAA Gent, Orban signed a €13 million contract with the French club.

He joined Gent from Norwegian club Stabaek Fotbal during the January 2023 transfer window after impressing in the Norwegian second tier, where he helped Stabaek secure promotion to the top level with 22 goals in 27 games.


In his first season in Belgium, Orban made news for his swift goal turnaround, scoring 32 goals in 52 games for Gent.His impressive performance won him a move to the seven-time Ligue 1 winners, who gave him the iconic number 9 jersey upon his signing.

However, Orban was unable to recreate his rapid success with Stabaek and Gent.In 16 appearances for Lyon, he scored three goals, prompting the team to seek another striker in the transfer market.

With the permanent signing of Guinea-Bissau forward Mame Balde from Troyes and the arrival of Georges Mikautadze, Orban faces heavy competition and the possibility of exiting on loan.


Meanwhile, Brest has thrown him a lifeline, with France-based writer Nabil Djellit saying that preliminary talks between the two teams have been held to bring the striker to Stade Francis-Le Blé.

While there has been no formal statement from Lyon or Orban's camp, it is believed that a loan move would benefit the player by giving him more playing time and the opportunity to restore his form.