Mohamed Bayo, the Guinean striker for Lille OSC, is on the verge of a significant career move. Lille and Al Fayha FC, a Saudi Pro League side, have reached a preliminary agreement for Bayo to join the Riyadh-based club on loan with a €3 million purchase option. Club officials see this deal as a chance for Bayo to revitalize his career after mixed performances in France and Belgium.
Bayo, under contract with Lille until June 2027, is no longer part of manager Bruno Genesio’s plans, especially after a brief loan spell at Royal Antwerp in early 2025. Although clubs like Rayo Vallecano and Paris FC showed interest, Al Fayha’s offer appears to be the only concrete path, pending Bayo’s final approval.
Once top scorer at Clermont Foot and signed for €14 million in 2022, Bayo is reportedly attracted by the ambitious project and financial terms offered by Al Fayha FC, who finished 13th in the Saudi championship last season. The club is counting on Bayo’s international experience: he has recorded 8 goals in 30 caps for Guinea and played at the Africa Cup of Nations.
A loan with a non-mandatory purchase option would allow Bayo to restart his career in an environment increasingly popular with African stars. If negotiations are concluded, he will join Al Fayha in the lively Saudi Pro League, a league that has become a magnet for global football talent this summer.