Cameroon Forward Karl Toko Ekambi Signs Permanent Deal With Lyon

French outfit Lyon have signed striker Karl Toko Ekambi on a permanent deal from Spanish La Liga side Villarreal, the Ligue 1 club said on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Cameroon international joined Lyon in January on a six-month loan with a buy-out option.

“Lyon is pleased to announce that it has taken up the purchase option for Ekambi from Villarreal,” the French club wrote on their website.

“ This exercise of the purchase option follows the temporary transfer that took place in January 2020.

“It amounts to €11.5 million to which can be added a maximum of €4 million of incentives as well as a profit-sharing of 15 % on the capital gain of a possible future transfer (50% if the transfer takes place before 15/09/20).

“The final arrival of Karl Toko Ekambi confirms the ambition of Olympique Lyonnais to give itself the means to be at the highest level next season.”

Toko Ekambi scored twice in eight matches in all competitions before the season was officially concluded on April 30 with 10 games remaining due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The Indomitable Lions forward previously played in France for Angers, Paris FC and Sochaux where he won the Marc-Vivien Foe prize before switching to Spain to team up with Villarreal in 2018.