Returning To Lyon Despite Failing To Qualify For European Competition, Lacazette: This Team Project Is Far More Important Than Anything

JAKARTA - Football player Alexandre Lacazette has officially rejoined Olympique Lyon. He signed a contract that lasted until 2025,

Lacazette has just left Arsenal after his contract with the England team officially expired at the end of this month.

Even though Lyon's 2021-22 season only finished eighth and failed to secure a European ticket, Lacazette insists that he doesn't have to think twice about returning when given the chance.

"Everything is so clear. Even though there is no European competition, this team project is far more important than anything else. I feel I can play a role in the dressing room and on the pitch with this project, so this is definitely the right decision. Glad to be back", Lacazette said, quoted by Antara from Lyon's official website.

Lyon, the team that Lacazette played for before he moved to England in the summer of 2017 joined Arsenal in a record-breaking transfer at the time after paying a dowry of 53 million euros.

Lacazette is contracted at the Emirates at the end of this month and Arsenal confirmed last week that they would not offer an extension for the 31-year-old forward.

During his time at Arsenal, Lacazette made 206 appearances in all competitions where he scored 71 goals and helped the Gunners win the 2019-20 FA Cup and finished runners-up in the Europa League the previous season.

Lacazette is a product of Lyon's academy and joined at the age of 12 at the club in 2003.

He spent eight years of his senior career at Lyon, where he made 275 appearances and became one of the club's top strikers with 129 goals, only to lose to the likes of Fleury Di Nello, Bernard Lacombe, and Serge Chiesa.

With Lyon, Lacazette won the 2011-12 French Cup and became the top scorer of the 2014-15 French League with 27 goals.