In a bid to rescue his dream of playing in the 2026 World Cup, Real Madrid’s teenage sensation Endrick is officially heading to France. On Monday, December 22, 2025, Real Madrid and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) finalized a straight six-month loan deal for the 19-year-old Brazilian international.
The move comes after a frustrating half-season under Real Madrid’s new manager, Xabi Alonso, where Endrick struggled for minutes behind the likes of Kylian Mbappé and breakout star Gonzalo GarcÃa.
The Details of the Deal
The agreement is designed to be a "win-win" for both the player’s development and Real Madrid’s long-term control over their asset.
Duration: 6 months (January 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026).
Buy Option: None. Real Madrid strictly refused any purchase or obligation clause, viewing Endrick as a vital part of their future.
Loan Fee: Lyon will pay a €1 million fee to Real Madrid.
Salary Split: Lyon will cover 50% of the player's wages during his time in Ligue 1.
The No. 9: In a sign of how central he will be to Paulo Fonseca’s plans, Endrick has been handed Lyon’s iconic number 9 shirt.
Why Lyon? The "Ancelotti Factor"
While several Premier League clubs and Bundesliga sides inquired about the Brazilian, Endrick personally pushed for Lyon.
Guaranteed Minutes: Following the summer departures of Alexandre Lacazette and Georges Mikautadze, Lyon were desperate for a clinical finisher to lead their line.
National Team Ambitions: Brazil’s national team is now coached by Carlo Ancelotti, the man who brought Endrick to Madrid. Endrick knows that playing under Fonseca at a high-profile club like Lyon is his best chance to prove to Ancelotti that he deserves a spot in the Seleção squad for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
The Fonseca Project: Endrick reportedly held a private call with Paulo Fonseca in November, where the coach detailed how he would utilize the teenager’s explosive pace and finishing in Ligue 1.
The Madrid Perspective: Patience from Alonso
Xabi Alonso has been vocal about Endrick's talent but noted the difficulty of integrating a teenager into a high-pressure "win now" environment.
"He has to be patient and know that he is at Real Madrid," Alonso said recently. "We want him to compete, but the right moment has to come. Going to Lyon is a smart step for him to get the rhythm he needs."
What’s Next?
Endrick is expected to arrive in Lyon on December 29 for the resumption of training. If bureaucratic procedures are cleared in time, his debut could come as early as Saturday, January 3, 2026, in a massive Ligue 1 clash against Monaco.
The Verdict: This move is a calculated risk. If Endrick conquers Ligue 1, he returns to Madrid in July as a battle-hardened starter ready for the world stage. If he struggles, the pressure on his "wonderkid" status will reach an all-time high.