Lyon may not have made the start to the season they would have wanted under Peter Bosz, winless in their first three games of the 2021/22 Ligue 1 Uber Eats campaign, but they have added a game-changing player to their ranks in Shaqiri.

A two-time UEFA Champions League winner with nearly a century of international caps with Switzerland, the left-footed wing wizard could make his OL debut on Friday, when les Gones look to turn things around at FC Nantes.

Back story:

Born in Gjilan in the former Yugoslavia in October 1991, Shaqiri was less than a year old when his Kosovar Albanian parents immigrated to Switzerland. From a football-mad family - elder brother Arianit today runs a youth academy - he was scouted by Basel aged eight and raced through their ranks, making his senior debut three months before his 18th birthday.

Shaqiri left for Bayern Munich in 2012 as full Switzerland international with three Swiss Super League titles under his belt, but after struggling to displace Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, he spent a single season with Inter Milan before settling in England where he racked up 155 appearances with Stoke and then Liverpool.

Style of play:

A muscular 5'7"-tall winger, the left-footed Shaqiri has the turn of pace to dart past most opposition markers , as well as the power and low centre of gravity to then fend off the few that can keep pace with him.

Shaqiri also has a fine shot from range and the imagination and ability to pull of wondergoals - several of which have also made him his country's leading scorer at major tournaments with seven.

Current campaign:

Shaqiri has yet to kick a ball in 2021/22, Liverpool and Lyon agreeing to keep his powder dry whilst they worked on a move which ultimately saw him join Emerson Palmieri, Henrique and Damien Da Silva at the Groupama Stadium.

Anticipation is understandably high: last term the 29-year-old five goal-involvements came in at a rate of one every 164 minutes he played. With regular game time ahead, promises to fill the attacking void left by the Barcelona-bound Memphis Depay.

What they said:

"Lyon is a top club in France and in Europe with a lot of success and who wants to win titles again. The club identified a need for experienced players. I really want to pass on my winning mentality now. I want to help the youngsters. The fans deserve to rediscover the glory years. We have everything we need here to train in the best possible way."

- Shaqiri on completing his move to Lyon.

"I was at the France-Switzerland match at the Euros [Switzerland beat France on penalties after a 3-3 draw]. Shaq hurt us very, very badly. He was extremely effective in turning the tide. I didn't know at the time that we could bring him in. If he didn't absolutely want to come to OL, it would've been even more difficult. We're happy to have been able to conclude these negotiations. We really believe in his qualities."

- OL chairman Jean-Michel Aulas.