Olympique Lyonnais have today completed the signing of young Tottenham striker Reo Griffiths, with the 18-year-old attacker signing a four-year deal with Les Gones. Griffiths, a native of London and a product of Tottenham’s academy, is leaving his hometown club on a free transfer (plus a small development fee) having never signed a professional contract with Spurs.
The arrival of Griffiths marks one of Lyon’s first ventures into this summer’s transfer market. OL have amassed nearly €60m in player sales since early July but have made just one permanent signing to replace the players making up a part of their profitable exodus. While Griffiths may be destined for the French club’s reserve side at least to start, OL’s new recruit may be a sign of more arrivals to come.
Capable of playing on the left or right sides of an attack, but most comfortable through the middle, Griffiths very well may be a replacement for 16-year-old Willem Geubbels who left Lyon for Monaco earlier this window. Like Geubbels, Griffiths is a speedy striker who has lit up nearly every youth level he’s appeared in. Most recently the young English striker impressed in the U18 Premier League, where he scored 27 goals in 20 matches.
The departure of one of the more promising and capable prospects to have come through Tottenham’s academy in the last few years has left many Spurs fans disappointed, and understandably so. Griffiths has the potential to shine in France given the opportunity, something he’ll more than likely receive in a Lyon side that prides itself on youth development.
Griffiths will play this coming season in Lyon’s reserve ranks.
