The evolution of Rayan Cherki at Lyon this season

Since extending his stay at Olympique Lyonnais last month, we are seeing Rayan Cherki (21) evolve into an elite attacking player.

The Olympic silver medallist from Paris this summer, who nearly left to join Fulham earlier this year, has been playing at an exceptionally high level lately.

Coming into their matchday three fixture in the UEFA Europa League this week on a five-match winning run across all competitions, Pierre Sage’s side are in high spirits. Cherki has played a big part in that turnaround, netting two goals and three assists in his previous six matches.

It’s not just the team’s success and his statistics that jump out when you examine Cherki’s recent performances with OL.

The Lyon-born player’s mentality and body language on the pitch have been evident in the 2024-25 season, which seems to have raised the level of play of all of his teammates.

His ball control and movement have enabled OL to stabilise matches and keep them in control while showing his versatility on the wing or as a striker.

He’s looked like an exceptional  No.10 player this season, displaying tremendous dribbling and creativity when in possession. Sage recently spoke to RMC Sport, explaining what he needs to see from Cherki going forward.

“For me, it’s the challenge [for him] today. He is on a run of three or four good performances, so each next game is a big one, and the idea is that the run goes on for as long as possible,” said Sage. 

October has been an exceptional month for Lyon, winning all three of their competitive fixtures by a combined margin of 10-1.

Cherki’s form has helped Lyon move up to seventh in the table with 13 points, just one fewer than Stade de Reims for a place in the Europa League qualifiers next season.

According to reports, Fulham were trying to bring him to Craven Cottage for in the summer. However, having remained, he has now signed a contract extension.

In September, Cherki extended his deal with Lyon until 2026 with the option of remaining at the club for another year.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre