Olympique Lyonnais have confirmed the departure of 22-year-old striker Yannis Lagha to Algerian club JS Kabylie, with the move completed just hours before the French transfer window closed on Tuesday, 1 September.
Lagha leaves the club where he developed as a player and will continue his career in Algeria, the country of his parents’ origin. Olympique Lyonnais announced the transfer in an official statement as they finalised another departure at the end of the French market.
The forward joins JS Kabylie after making about 50 appearances for Lyon’s reserve side. He was part of the team that won the Coupe Gambardella in 2022, a success that was followed by the signing of his first professional contract with Olympique Lyonnais later that year.
Despite reaching that stage of his development, Lagha never made an appearance for the senior Lyon team. His move to JS Kabylie therefore represents an opportunity to begin a new chapter with first-team football in Algeria.
JS Kabylie welcomed their new signing after the transfer was confirmed. Lagha arrives at the club as one of several players to complete moves during the final moments of the Algerian transfer window.
He follows Samy Benchamma, Alphonce Msanga and Aly Abeid, who also joined clubs in Algeria towards the end of that market.
Born in Lyon, Lagha is eligible to represent both France and Algeria. He has already played for Algeria at youth level, appearing twice for the country’s Under-18 side in 2021.
On both occasions, he wore the captain’s armband for Algeria Under-18s. However, he has not yet received a call-up to the Algeria senior national team.
The transfer brings an end to Lagha’s time with Olympique Lyonnais, where he progressed through the club’s academy, won the Coupe Gambardella and signed professional terms without breaking into the first-team squad.
His arrival gives JS Kabylie a forward with experience of reserve-team football at a major French club, as well as international youth experience with Algeria. For Lagha, the move also links his professional career more directly with the country of his family background.
Olympique Lyonnais’ announcement came as the French transfer window approached its close, allowing the club to complete the outgoing deal before the deadline. JS Kabylie have now added Lagha to their squad after securing his transfer from the French club.