The winger has emerged as a transfer target for the two English giants, as well as many others among Europe's elite
After something of a breakout campaign with Lyon, the early signs are that Malick Fofana could be at the centre of a multi-club tug of war this summer. Chelsea and Liverpool are said to have made their interest known, while plenty of others were already reported to be keen on the 19-year-old.
A tricky, two-footed winger who has the game intelligence to match his pace and skill with end product, the young Belgian has been earmarked to reach the very top for some time, and after just one-and-a-half seasons in Ligue 1, it seems his suitors believe he is ready to take a step up.
Indeed, it seems he will have no shortage of options, and he has all the attributes to succeed wherever he ends up. GOAL has everything you need to know about the prodigious teenager…
AFPWhere it all began
The son of a former professional footballer, it seems Fofana was always destined to follow the same path. He was born to a Guinean father and Filipino mother in the city of Aalst, Belgium, in March 2005.
He took his first academy steps at local fourth-tier club Eendracht Aalst at a very young age before joining Gent, a short distance from his hometown, in 2014 aged nine. Earmarked as a prodigious talent, Fofana would continue his development there for eight years, signing his first boot deal with German sportswear behemoth adidas at 14, and was awarded his first professional contract at Gent in January 2022 when he was still just 16.
AdvertisementAFPThe big break
Fofana wouldn't have to wait long for a first-team breakthrough. Having been involved in pre-season, he made his official senior debut when he emerged from the bench late in Gent's second league game of the 2022-23 season against Sint-Truiden.
The following week, he was handed a full debut and starred in the 2-1 win over Westerlo. "The first time in a full stadium in front of the fans, that kind of thing tickles," the attacker said afterwards. "It's really nice to be in the starting line-up today. My parents and nephew were in the stands too. I'm doing it for them."
However, those early-season outings did not prove to be the springboard that Fofana might have been hoping for, as head coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck used him sparingly in the first half of the campaign while he often featured for the Under-21s. It was only from mid-January onwards that he became more of a permanent fixture.
AFPHow it's going
Fofana had to wait until October 2023 to bag his first league goal, picking the ball up in the centre circle against Molenbeek and racing forward, before skipping inside a defender and crashing home a low, left-footed strike from the edge of the box. The teenager would have a particularly fruitful period across November and December, winning Player and Goal of the Month in the former while registering five goal involvements in as many games.
That form piqued Lyon's interest when the January transfer window rolled around, with the French giants shelling out €22 million (£19m/$25m) to sign Fofana amid their struggles in Ligue 1. However, Said Benrahma's arrival from West Ham the same month meant he had to be patient, starting just three times in the league during the remainder of the season.
Although Fofana still had to fight for a starting place, 2024-25 was eventually a different story as the 19-year-old made the left flank his own, scoring five times in six matches between late September and early November, including a dominant Europa League display against Rangers. He also earned a senior Belgium debut in October 2024 against Italy, having played through the age grades.
Having only turned 20 in March, Fofana finished the season with a very respectable 17 goal contributions to his name, including eight in 10 games in Europe.
GettyBiggest strengths
First and foremost, Fofana is a wonderful dribbler who uses his speed and two-footedness to manipulate the ball and ghost away from defenders in a flash – making him 'a nightmare for defenders', according to the Belgian press. Others have described him as 'Eden Hazard-like'.
His ex-Lyon boss, Pierre Sage, also recognised the youngster's game intelligence: "He plays the game – an essential quality. [He is] a fairly complete player, comfortable in different phases of play. When he needs to cross, he crosses. When he needs to shoot, he shoots. When you respect the game, the game respects you in return, and so do your team-mates."
The winger's drive and attitude have also not gone unnoticed despite his tender years. "He's a player who's at the very high level in his mentality," Sage said previously. Former club Gent also noted Fofana's work ethic when he signed that first pro contract way back in 2022, writing: "Malick is a winner who does not forget his defensive tasks."
