RC Lens has officially announced the acquisition of 27-year-old Odsonne Édouard from Crystal Palace. The prolific striker`s contract is set to run until 2028, marking a significant addition for the French club.
The forward, who made 105 appearances for Crystal Palace since joining from Celtic in 2021, found himself increasingly out of favour under head coach Oliver Glasner. Last season, Édouard participated in only six matches across all competitions. Seeking more consistent playing time, the former France youth international was actively on the transfer market and had garnered interest from several clubs, including Girona and OGC Nice.
Lens had been actively searching for a new striker, especially as 19-year-old academy product Rayan Fofana isn`t yet considered ready to consistently lead the attack. Prior to finalizing the agreement with Crystal Palace for Édouard, Lens had pursued a deal with AJ Auxerre for the transfer of 25-year-old Lassine Sinayoko.
However, that potential deal fell through as Auxerre reportedly backed out at the last minute. This turn of events ultimately paved the way for the Paris Saint-Germain academy product to make his return to a league he hasn`t featured in since the 2016/17 season, when he was on loan at Toulouse FC.
