Nottingham Forest midfielder Orel Mangala has completed his £15m move to Lyon after previously spending half of last season on loan at the French club.
The 25-year-old struggled to gain consistent playing time during his two-year stint at the City Ground after initially joining from Bundesliga side Stuttgart in 2022.
His permanent transfer has seen Forest bank over £2m in profit after he originally joined for just £12.7m.
Forest have been keen to sell players deemed surplus to requirements in a bid to reduce their budget and avoid being sanctioned under the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
The club were previously docked four points last season for breaching the rules on spending but managed to avoid relegation with a 17th-placed finish in the Premier League.
Nottingham Forest midfielder Orel Mangala has completed his £15m move to Lyon
Mangala featured in every one of Belgium’s matches at Euro 2024 before they crashed out the competition
Mangala originally slotted into Forest’s midfield under previous manager Steve Cooper and went on to make 31 appearances upon the club’s return to England’s top-flight.
He then made a further 22 outings during the first-half of last season before Lyon secured a loan deal in January as they attempt to recover from a torrid start in Ligue 1.
Mangala made 22 outings during the first-half of last season before joining Lyon on loan
The midfielder played an integral part in transforming Lyon’s fortunes as his appearance coincided with a stunning turnaround that saw the French giants eventually finish sixth in the league.
Mangala’s impressive performances in France were also enough to earn him a place in Belgium’s Euro 2024 squad.
He went on to feature in every game of their European Championship campaign before they were dumped out of the tournament by France.
Confirming Mangala’s departure, Forest posted a statement online, stating: ‘We thank Orel for his contributions during his time at the Club and wish him all the best for the future.’