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Malick Fofana’s move from Lyon turned into one of the most dramatic transfer sagas of Deadline Day.
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Arsenal walked away after refusing to meet Lyon’s asking price before Sunderland agreed a deal, only for Crystal Palace to launch a late hijack.
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Sunderland then made another push, with Fofana ultimately choosing their move after both clubs agreed packages worth around £33.5 million.
September 01, (THEWILL) — Malick Fofana’s transfer to the Premier League looked straightforward at one stage. By the end of Deadline Day, it had become a remarkable game of twists, competing offers and even two private jets waiting at Lyon airport.
The Belgium winger was initially on Arsenal’s radar, but the Gunners decided against paying Lyon’s asking price of around £30 million. That decision opened the door for Sunderland, who moved quickly to agree a deal and put themselves in pole position for the 21-year-old.
Arsenal walk away and Sunderland strike
Arsenal had explored a late move for Fofana as they looked to strengthen their attack, but the Gunners were unwilling to meet Lyon’s valuation. With time running out, Sunderland saw an opportunity and moved decisively.
The Black Cats agreed a package worth around £30 million, understood to comprise a fixed fee plus add-ons, and Fofana was expected to sign a five-year contract.
A medical was arranged as Sunderland prepared to complete what would have been a significant Deadline Day signing.
For a while, it appeared the deal was done. Then Crystal Palace entered the picture.
Palace Hijack The Deal
Palace moved quickly to disrupt Sunderland’s agreement, offering Lyon a better package of around £33.5 million.
Lyon accepted the improved proposal, suddenly putting Palace in control of the transfer. What had looked like a routine move to Sunderland had become a straight fight between two Premier League clubs.
The drama escalated at Lyon airport, where Fofana reportedly had two private jets waiting for him. One was ready to take him to London for Crystal Palace, while the other was bound for the North East for Sunderland.
The decision over which aircraft he would board effectively became the next chapter of the saga.
At that point, Palace appeared to have pulled off the hijack. Fofana chose the London-bound option, giving the impression that his next destination would be Selhurst Park.
Sunderland Refuse To Lose Fofana
Sunderland, however, were not prepared to walk away. The club responded by matching Palace’s improved offer and making another important change to the proposal.
They reportedly offered better commission terms to Fofana’s representatives, giving the player’s camp an additional reason to reconsider the move.
That intervention changed the direction of the transfer once again. Palace were reportedly left uncertain about Fofana’s whereabouts as the winger’s camp went quiet and the player travelled north instead of completing the move to London.
The situation had effectively flipped for a second time. Palace had hijacked Sunderland’s deal, only for Sunderland to launch a counter-hijack of their own.
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Fofana Chooses Sunderland
After all the back-and-forth, Fofana ultimately opted for Sunderland. The winger was set to travel to the North East to complete the move, with Sunderland’s package rising to around £33.5 million.
The transfer represents a major coup for the Black Cats, particularly given the level of competition for Fofana’s signature on the final day of the window. It also brings one of the most chaotic transfer stories of Deadline Day to a dramatic conclusion.
For Crystal Palace, the late intervention initially looked like a masterstroke. They had beaten Sunderland’s original offer and appeared to have convinced the player to head to London. But Sunderland’s refusal to give up ultimately changed the outcome.
Malick Fofana anyone? 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/7Z7j4BWiIi
— Gooner Chris (@ArsenalN7) August 31, 2026
Why Sunderland Wanted Fofana
Fofana has emerged as one of Lyon’s most exciting young attackers since arriving from Gent. His pace, ability to carry the ball and attacking versatility have made him an attractive option for Premier League clubs, while his performances in France have continued to increase his profile.
Sunderland see him as an important addition as they build a squad capable of competing in the Premier League and Europa League. The club’s willingness to fight until the final moments of the window underlines how highly they rate the Belgian.
For Fofana, the move represents another major step in his career and an opportunity to establish himself in English football.
A Deadline Day Saga With Everything
The Fofana transfer had almost everything associated with football’s final day of the window: Arsenal interest, a rejected valuation, a Sunderland breakthrough, a Crystal Palace hijack, competing bids, two private jets and a last-minute reversal.
Most importantly, it showed why a transfer is never truly finished until the paperwork is completed.
Sunderland thought they had their man. Palace briefly took him away. Sunderland came back again, and Fofana eventually chose the North East.
After one of the most extraordinary transfer battles of the window, Malick Fofana is heading to Sunderland, and Deadline Day delivered another saga worth remembering.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
