Lily Yohannes signs for Olympique Lyonnais
American midfielder Lily Yohannes has signed a three-year contract with Olympique Lyonnais, the club announced this Monday. The agreement between the French club, eight-time European champion, and Ajax was finalized last week for the transfer of the 18-year-old. Yohannes’ contract will extend until June 30, 2028. According to sources, the transfer was made for a sum close to 450,000 euros, with an additional percentage for Ajax in case of a future transfer. Yohannes’ contract with Ajax was valid until June 2026.
Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images
Chelsea, the champion of England, had also shown interest in signing Yohannes. Yohannes has played eight games with the United States women’s national team. She scored a goal in her debut in June 2024, at the age of 17. In November, Yohannes confirmed his decision to represent the United States internationally, after having considered the possibility of playing for the Netherlands, where he was in the process of obtaining citizenship. Born in Virginia, Yohannes and her family moved to the Netherlands when she was 10 years old. At 15, she signed her first professional contract with Ajax. In 2023, at 16 years old, Yohannes became the youngest player to start in a UEFA Women’s Champions League match, playing for Ajax in the 2-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain.“But I am invested in that development, and we have to be patient with that considering his young age and his lack of international and high-level experience.”“She has incredible maturity and learning ability, and I know she will become an important part of our program,” said U.S. women’s national team coach Emma Hayes in May.
Emma Hayes, coach of the U.S. women’s national team
