Financial Improvement and Deficit Reduction Under Michele Kang at Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais has significantly trimmed its financial losses and reduced overall debt during the first full season under the leadership of club owner Michele Kang, according to financial statements published in an official club release and reported by RMC Sport. Despite posting an 87 million euro deficit for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, the French club’s new administration has made measurable progress in stabilizing its balance sheet following the departure of former owner John Textor in mid-2025.
Tightened Operating Costs and Lower Payrolls
The club’s financial turnaround stems from a broad austerity plan implemented since July 2025, which successfully lowered operating expenses and reduced staff costs by 63.1 million euros to their lowest level since the 2017–2018 season, RMC Sport reported. Lyon instituted an internal salary cap restricting monthly player wages to between 100,000 and 150,000 euros. These cost-cutting measures brought the club’s earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to -4.7 million euros, a sharp improvement from the -47,7 million euro deficit recorded during Textor’s final operational year. Total debt also dropped from 517.9 million euros to 409.8 million euros, aided in large part by debt waivers and a newly secured loan.
Stronger On-Field Performance and European Revenue
The reduction in expenditures did not come at the expense of competitive success on the pitch. Lyon finished fourth in Ligue 1 at the conclusion of the previous campaign, marking the club’s highest league finish since May 2021. Additionally, a run to the round of 16 in the UEFA Europa League—where they were eliminated by Celta Vigo—bolstered the club’s broadcasting and marketing revenue to 38.4 million euros, helping offset a 19 percent drop in overall business activity caused by fewer stadium events and a quieter transfer market.
Ongoing Legal Disputes with Former Owner John Textor
Financial recovery efforts coincide with continuing legal friction involving former owner John Textor, who managed the club between 2023 and 2025. Lyon’s board of directors reviewed a new legal action filed by Textor in a New York court on October 13. The ongoing dispute involves multiple legal proceedings regarding factoring agreements and player transfers between Botafogo and Lyon, totaling several tens of millions of euros. The contested transactions include a 14.4 million euro obligation concerning players Luiz Henrique and Thiago Almada. While an initial court ruling ordered Textor to pay as a guarantor, he has pursued legal action against the club. Lyon stated that it will take all necessary steps to defend its interests, arguing that the disputed transactions were neither known to the group nor reflected in its accounts.
Strict Financial Oversight and Future Outlook
Club leadership acknowledges that strict financial management must remain in place through at least the 2028–2029 season to satisfy oversight from the Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion (DNCG) and UEFA. Financial planners indicate that securing a return to the lucrative UEFA Champions League remains vital to accelerating the club’s path back to a balanced budget, potentially shortening the timeline of its ongoing austerity measures.
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