The high-profile recruitment of Ghanaian forward Ernest Nuamah to Ligue 1 giants Olympique Lyonnaise has sparked controversy and calls for FIFA to initiate an investigation, as reported by L’Équipe.
Ernest Nuamah, aged 19, initially made the move to Belgian club Molenbeek from FC Nordsjaelland before securing a loan deal with an obligation to buy at Olympique Lyonnaise.
However, Nuamah’s transfer has raised eyebrows among rival clubs, fans, and pundits due to the complex multi-ownership structure involving Eagle Football, which considers Molenbeek as a sister club to Lyon.
The Ghanaian forward made headlines with his staggering €25 million signing fee, which is set to be paid in full to Molenbeek once the obligation to buy clause is triggered.
While Nuamah’s move to Molenbeek initially received FIFA’s approval, and Lyon obtained upstream approval from the DNCG (Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion) despite facing financial constraints, the deal is now reportedly under scrutiny, according to undisclosed FIFA sources. This heightened interest has emerged following mounting inquiries from Lyon’s competitors within Ligue 1.
For Molenbeek, a newly-promoted Jupiler Pro League club, this transfer represents a record-breaking fee, far exceeding their previous highest fee of €3 million.
Since his controversial transfer to the Groupama Stadium, Nuamah has made four appearances for Olympique Lyonnaise, though he is yet to find the back of the net for Les Gones. Nevertheless, he made a significant impact while representing the Ghana Black Stars, scoring in their recent AFCON qualification matches against the Central African Republic (CAR) and contributing with a goal and an assist in Ghana’s 3-1 victory over Liberia in a friendly match.
As pressure mounts and inquiries intensify, the football world eagerly awaits FIFA’s investigation into this intriguing transfer saga.
