Benrahma is heading from West Ham to Lyon. The Ligue 1 club is also strengthening with players from Nottingham, what about Fornals and Betis?

Saïd Benrahma is on his way out of West Ham. The English club has agreed a loan deal with Olympique Lyon. So the Algerian winger will help the French club to save the top flight. Meanwhile, the Hammers have rejected Betis’ offer for Pablo Fornals.

Benrahma first donned the West Ham jersey in the 2020/21 season, when he joined the London club on loan from Brentford. Well back in January 2021, roughly a quarter of a year after his arrival, the Hammers exercised their option for a permanent transfer.

Over the past three seasons Benrahma has played 30, 32 and 35 league games at West Ham. In the current season of the English top flight, he has only featured in 13 matches.

According to the BBC, he has not scored any goals so far this season and was sent off by the referee in the FA Cup replay. In addition, the Algerian national team omitted him from the squad for the African Cup of Nations.

In total, Benrahma has played 155 competitive matches for the London club, scoring 24 goals and assisting a further 19. However, the 28-year-old Algerian winger is leaving the Hammers at the end of this winter transfer window.

Olympique Lyon have expressed interest in his services. However, the Algerian international is under contract at the London Stadium until the end of June 2026. And he will only go to the French club on loan for the time being.

As the renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano informs on the X platform, Lyon is to pay West Ham five million euros for this guest appearance. Another twelve million will then cost the currently sixteenth Ligue 1 club if they exercise their option for a permanent transfer.

Benrahma is not Lyon’s only reinforcement, what about Fornals?

Not only Benrahma, but also midfielder Orel Mangala will help Lyon to avoid relegation and save the top flight. He is expected to join from Nottingham Forest as part of a permanent transfer.

Meanwhile, West Ham have rejected Real Betis’ bid for Spanish midfielder Pablo Fornals. However, the player is expected to leave the Hammers’ cabinet. In fact, he has only featured in four games in the current Premier League campaign.

Source: BBC, Premier League, Ligue 1, Transfermarkt