Endrick Breaks Free: Real Madrid Starlet Escapes Seven-Month Limbo with Loan Move
Endrick's search for regular minutes on the pitch has resulted in the announcement of a half-season loan arrangement with French club Olympique Lyonnais for the latter portion of the 2025–26 season.
The Brazilian wonderkid has faced seven challenging months following a hamstring setback that occurred in May. Endrick experienced a recurrence of the muscle problem during the summer break, causing him to miss the complete Club World Cup tournament and the initial weeks of the current league season.
After demonstrating sufficient fitness to join matchday rosters, the compact forward found it difficult to secure meaningful minutes. Xabi Alonso provided the 19-year-old with three opportunities, with only one exceeding 11 minutes of action—and that came against lower-division Talavera.
Endrick eliminated any chance of a proper send-off when he received a red card for arguing with officials while remaining on the substitutes' bench throughout this month's 2–0 loss to Celta Vigo.
This troubled period in the Spanish capital has been temporarily halted by what everyone hopes will be a revitalizing transfer to Lyon.
Details of Endrick's Lyon Move
The Ligue 1 side announced on Tuesday that they had received an early holiday gift. Endrick will join Lyon from Dec. 29 through the season's conclusion on a compensated loan arrangement that will cost the French team up to €1 million ($1.2 million).
Endrick, who will don the No. 9 jersey in France as he did in Madrid, maintains his contract with the Spanish powerhouse through 2030. When he was recruited from Palmeiras as an 18-year-old prospect 18 months prior, Madrid had long-term plans in mind.
After being stung by losing Neymar Jr. to Barcelona ten years earlier, the capital side has pursued an aggressive acquisition of Brazilian prospects. Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo exemplify the remarkable achievements of this bold strategy, while the largely overlooked Reinier—purchased for €30 million and released five years later without a single first-team appearance—highlights its potential dangers.
Endrick's transfer fee reached €47.5 million and he has already accumulated 40 first-team appearances for Madrid, along with seven goals. The 19-year-old still has ample opportunity to avoid following Reinier's path, beginning with his stint in Lyon.