Olympique Lyonnais have signed a new central defender: Danish U21 international Joachim Andersen, who has signed from Sampdoria on a five-year deal.
After Ciprian Tatarusanu, Jean Lucas, Thiago Mendes and Youssouf Koné, Olympique Lyonnais have made a fifth signing of the summer transfer window. Danish defender Joachim Andersen, 23, is coming off a very good season in Serie A with Sampdoria. The ball-playing defender, who can play on the left or right of central defence as well as in a holding midfield role, was second only to Inter's Marcelo Brozovic in terms of accurate long passes last season.
Strong season
Andersen left Denmark very early, joining the youth academy at Dutch side FC Twente at the age of 17. It was in the Netherlands that he began his professional career, and the 1.93m stopper soon attracted the attention of European scouts. In August 2017, he opted for Italy and signed up for Sampdoria. After a first year of adaptation (seven appearances), he burst into the limelight in the 2018-2019 campaign, making no fewer than 32 league appearances for the Genoa club.
Andersen's rise and rise caught the eye of OL's chief scout Florian Maurice, and the French club fended off competition from other major European clubs to sign the Danish youngster on a five-year deal. Andersen's addition to the squad is a timely one following the end of Jérémy Morel's contract, and he will be in competition with Belgium's Jason Denayer and Brazilian stopper Marcelo for a place in new boss Sylvinho's starting XI.