Sunderland have secured the signing of Lyon winger Malick Fofana for a fee that could reach £30.8 million, bringing an end to one of the most chaotic Deadline Day sagas in recent Premier League memory — a drama that featured two private jets, one medical, and an owner flying to France to personally seal the deal.

A deal that nearly went elsewhere

Sunderland had agreed terms with Lyon for Fofana on the morning of Deadline Day, only for Crystal Palace to enter the picture and attempt to hijack the transfer. The move was complicated further by the fact that Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage had previously worked with Fofana at Lyon, giving him a personal connection to the player.

With both Premier League clubs having struck their own separate agreements with Lyon, Fofana found himself at Lyon airport, unable to decide between two waiting private jets — one bound for the northeast of England, the other for London.

Louis-Dreyfus flies to Lyon

As the transfer window deadline drew closer, Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus boarded a flight to Lyon to make a personal appeal to the winger. His intervention proved decisive. With just over an hour remaining before the 11pm deadline, Fofana chose Sunderland.

The deal is structured as an initial £25.7 million, with a further £5.14 million in potential add-ons. Sunderland submitted a deal sheet to ensure the paperwork was completed in time, and the club officially confirmed the signing shortly after midnight.

Arsenal and Lukebakio also in the mix

Arsenal had explored the possibility of signing Fofana over the preceding weekend but ultimately decided against making a formal approach. Their decision opened the door for Sunderland to move first.

Sunderland also held talks during the day with Benfica winger Dodi Lukebakio as a potential alternative — or addition — to the Fofana deal. Those negotiations ended without agreement, with Lukebakio remaining at Benfica.

How the day unfolded

At 10:47am, after Arsenal stepped back, Sunderland agreed a deal with Lyon worth up to £30 million. By 1:01pm, Crystal Palace had made direct contact with Fofana in an attempt to lure him to London. At 3:18pm, Crystal Palace also struck an agreement with Lyon, leaving the decision entirely in the player's hands.

At 3:42pm, Fofana was at Lyon airport with two jets on standby. Louis-Dreyfus arrived in Lyon at 8:24pm, and the player underwent a single medical — made available to both clubs. Sunderland's pursuit of Lukebakio ended at 9:38pm, before Fofana finally gave Sunderland his answer at 9:50pm. A deal sheet was lodged at 10:54pm, and the announcement followed at 12:15am.