OL Sells Afonso Moreira to Bayer Leverkusen for €33.6 Million, One Year After Signing Him for €2 Million

Olympique Lyonnais officially confirmed on Wednesday the sale of Afonso Moreira to Bayer Leverkusen for €33.6 million, including €4.1 million in bonuses. The Rhône-based club had recruited the Portuguese midfielder from Sporting Lisbon exactly one year ago for just €2 million.

The profit made — over €31 million in twelve months — illustrates the meteoric rise of the 20-year-old player. In his first full season at the top level, the Portuguese U-21 international played 37 matches across all competitions, scoring 8 goals and providing 11 assists. Statistics that quickly caught the attention of major European clubs.

“Beyond his sporting performances, Afonso Moreira will have left his mark on his time at OL through his mentality and human qualities, leaving the memory of a player greatly appreciated within the squad,” the club stated in its official statement.

President Michele Kang personally paid tribute to the player’s departure: “I am grateful to have been able to meet such a devoted person to his club, capable of making us happy every time he touched a football. Afonso will forever remain in our hearts, leaving his mark on this season of reconstruction for Olympique Lyonnais.”

This sale comes in the opening days of the summer transfer window, as OL is also exploring several options on the incoming side. Moreira’s transfer to the Bundesliga already constitutes one of the most profitable deals on the European transfer market this summer.