Brighton reject Lyon offer despite Facundo Buonanotte's agreement as Premier League side's transfer plan for midfielder revealed

With the new season underway and a strong start in Ligue 1, Lyon are actively looking to reinforce their attack and turned their focus the 20-year-old. According to L'Equipe, the player has already been swayed by the project presented by coach Paulo Fonseca and has given his personal agreement to join the French club.

Buonanotte's transfer is far from simple. The Seagulls have a clear stance on the matter: they are not interested in a permanent sale. Instead, their intention is to send Buonanotte out on a loan deal, but only to a Premier League club. This preference is driven by a desire to continue the young Argentinian's development in a familiar and highly competitive environment. This provides club's like Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Leeds a boost as they have been monitoring the Argentinian this summer. 

The attacking midfielder, who can also play on the wing, joined the Seagulls in 2023 and was loaned to Leicester City last year, where he scored five goals and registered two assists across 31 games.

Lyon's pursuit of Buonanotte is a direct response to Ernest Nuamah's ruptured cruciate ligament, which he sustained in April. His long absence has created a void that Lyon's recruitment director, Matthieu Louis-Jean, has made a priority to fill. The club have been proactive in the transfer market, spending over €35 million (£30m/$40m) on seven new signings already.

With Brighton holding firm on their loan-only policy and their preference for a Premier League destination, the matter for Lyon appears compromised. The French club now faces a decision: either try to convince Brighton to change their mind, which seems unlikely, or move on to other transfer targets before the window closes. For Buonanotte, his immediate future is also uncertain.

Additional reporting by Patrick Tchanhoun.