Bitshiabu Joins Galatasaray on Loan at 21, With Option to Buy

Q: Why was a highly-rated Belgian star forced to abandon his club against his will on Deadline Day?

Malick Fofana was pushed toward an exit because Lyon needed money urgently, not because he wanted to go. The highly rated Belgian winger had been reluctant to leave and had indicated a preference to stay at Lyon. But the club’s financial situation changed the equation. After missing out on the Champions League, Lyon were left under significant pressure to raise funds through player sales. Multiple reports said the club would have to generate major transfer income, making Fofana one of their most valuable and saleable assets. That is why Lyon entertained and then agreed bids on Deadline Day despite the player’s resistance. Sunderland reached a full agreement with Lyon, reportedly worth around £30 million including add-ons, and Crystal Palace later matched it, turning the move into a late tug-of-war. Fofana was even given permission to travel for a medical, showing Lyon were prepared to complete a sale regardless of his initial wishes. In short, he was “forced” to abandon his club against his will because Lyon’s financial pressures made a sale effectively unavoidable. The trigger was not a breakdown in relations or sporting reasons, but the club’s need to balance the books after failing to qualify for Europe’s top competition.

Q: What convinced Jamie Leweling to brutally reject a massive €43 million Premier League move at the final hour?

Jamie Leweling turned down Everton’s €43 million offer because he wanted to stay at Stuttgart. That is the clearest explanation from the reporting around the deal. Both the original deadline-day update and follow-up reports from Sky Germany said Stuttgart rejected Everton’s late bid, but just as importantly Leweling himself also said no, preferring to remain where he is. He trained on Deadline Day and was widely expected to stay. The wider context helps explain why. Leweling has become a key player at Stuttgart after a strong season, and multiple reports say he feels settled there and values the coaching he has received under Sebastian Hoeneß. Stuttgart also still see him as an important part of their plans, which strengthened his incentive to remain rather than force a hurried move. There is also evidence that this was not simply an Everton-specific rejection. Leweling reportedly turned down approaches from other clubs as well, including Roma’s push and earlier Premier League interest. That suggests the decisive factor was not the transfer fee or the league, but his desire not to leave Stuttgart at this stage. So the “massive move” was rejected less because of any problem with Everton and more because Leweling was unconvinced a late-window switch was the right step. All available reporting points to the same answer: he chose continuity, his current role, and life at Stuttgart over a deadline-day exit.

3 articles · Updated · Bavarian Football Works · Sep 1

Galatasaray have reached a full agreement with RB Leipzig for 21-year-old centre-back El Chadaille Bitshiabu, turning the move into a done deal.
A loan with an option to buy has been agreed, with Bitshiabu due to fly out Tuesday and undergo a medical within 24 hours before the transfer is made official.
The move emerged as a surprise deadline-day development in a wider rush of late deals, with Leipzig also still fielding Serie A interest in Arthur Vermeeren.