Croatia defender Dejan Lovren returns to Lyon

Croatian defender Dejan Lovren has joined French club Lyon on a contract lasting until June 2025.

Lovren played for Lyon previously, appearing in 102 matches and winning the French Cup in 2012 before leaving in 2013 and moving on to Southampton and Liverpool.

He was part of the Croatian national team that reached the semifinals in the recent World Cup in Qatar, and also played in the 2018 World Cup in Russia where Croatia lost to France in the final.

Lovren’s signing is intended to bolster Lyon’s defense, which has been struggling this season and currently sits 20 points behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Lovren said in a statement that he left Lyon with regrets and hopes to prove his worth as a player with this return.