Zachary Athekame, 21-year-old Swiss right back, confirmed that he preferred to join Olympique Lyonnais rather than Olympique de Marseille, despite initial contacts with the Marseille club. The athlete, currently on loan to Lyon from AC Milan, explained that the choice was a natural choice thanks to the reputation of the Lyon team and the ability of OL to carry out such an operation.
During the last summer transfer window, OM had expressed an interest in the young defender, but the financial constraints of the Marseille club prevented any serious negotiations. Marseille, which recorded no arrivals during the summer of 2026, was not able to offer a competitive offer. Athekame stressed that, although exchanges took place, he did not have the means to conclude an agreement with OM.
In an interview with Djibril94260, the player admitted to having been in contact with Marseille leaders. “If I almost signed for Marseille, it’s true that I was in contact,” he declared. He then clarified that, when he had the choice between the two clubs, he immediately opted for Lyon. “Lyon is too strong in terms of training. Even in general. In reality, I said it’s Lyon direct when I spoke with my agent,” he added.
This decision reflects the attraction generated by the Lyon training center, renowned for producing high-level players. Athekame expressed his admiration for the structure of OL and indicated that this preference was clear from the first discussions.
For OM, the lack of financial resources continued to slow down its ambitions on the transfer market. The Marseille club was unable to take advantage of the opportunity to recruit a player in the same category as the one who joined Lyon. On the other hand, OL managed to secure a loan from AC Milan, thus strengthening its squad for the coming season.
In the future, OL will be able to count on Athekame for their right defense needs, while OM will have to rethink their recruitment strategies in order to remain competitive. The athlete's loan to Lyon opens up prospects for solid performances in the upcoming matches, while Marseille will have to look for other options to fill their lack of reinforcements.