Lois Openda’s first weeks at Lyon have offered the Belgian forward the release he felt was missing in Turin. On loan from Juventus and still tied to the Italian club until 2030, he has already produced two goals and an assist in eight appearances, surpassing his entire return from last season in black and white.
Key takeaways
- Openda chose a loan move to Lyon despite Juventus favouring a permanent sale to a Premier League club.
- The 25-year-old has described Lyon, where he is working under Paulo Fonseca, as a healthy environment.
- He believes Juventus did not consistently use the runs in behind that suit his game.
- Openda said competition from Dusan Vlahovic and Jonathan David limited his opportunities in Turin.
- His contract with Juventus remains valid through 2030.
A difficult fit in Turin
Openda arrived at Juventus with an awareness that Serie A would present a demanding tactical and physical test. He recalled a conversation in the summer of 2025 with Damien Comolli, then the club’s president, in which the Belgian was told how Juventus intended to use him in a league he recognised as far from straightforward.
Yet the forward felt the conditions never fully matched his strengths. Openda sees Inter as the Italian side most capable of exploiting space behind opposition defences, while he believes Roma are only beginning to develop that side of their game. Juventus, in his view, were less accustomed to serving a striker who attacks depth.
“The coach wanted me, but Vlahovic and David were playing in my position,” Openda said. “I had a good understanding with David, but the team was not used to playing with a forward who goes in behind, and Vlahovic tended to hold on to the ball.”
The Belgian said he continued to pursue his place and did receive opportunities on occasion. By the closing part of the campaign, however, he had reached the conclusion that regular football would require a move away from Juventus.
Lyon provides a fresh setting
Openda has not portrayed his Juventus spell as a mistake. He said the experience in Turin helped him work on areas of his game that he had not expected to address, adding that he had understood the challenge when he joined and remains convinced that a different context could have brought a better outcome.
When the time came to leave, Juventus would have preferred an English destination and a Premier League transfer. Openda instead pushed for Lyon, where Fonseca has given him a new platform and a setting the player considers positive for his development.
“It is a healthy place and I am very happy with the choice,” he said.
For now, the early figures support that judgement. Eight Lyon appearances have brought three direct goal contributions, restoring both his scoring touch and his sense of involvement after a season in which Juventus could not find a sustained role for him.
