Lyon are not just one of the most successful teams in France, winning seven Ligue 1 titles in the first decade of the 21st century, but they are also a popular destination for Europe's elite clubs when they look to strengthen their teams.
There was Michael Essien who made the move to Chelsea after impressing at OL, Karim Benzema earned himself a move to Real Madrid and there are many more who made the step up from Lyon over the course of the last two decades alone.
In 2022 alone, Lyon twice sold a player in deals worth over €40 million, with Brazil internations Bruno Guimaraes and Lucas Paqueta both leaving the French outfit for Premier League clubs.
Let's take a look at the players that have made Lyon the most money since the turn of the millennium.
Olympique Lyonnais most expensive sales by season
Season | Biggest sale | Fee | Total sales |
2022-23 | Lucas Paqueta | €42.95M/£38.66M | €46.35M/£41.72M |
2021-22 | Bruno Guimaraes | €42.10M/£37.89M | €95.60M/£86.04M |
2020-21 | Bertrand Traore | €18.40M/£16.56M | €50.60M/£45.54M |
2019-20 | Tanguy Ndombele | €60M/£54M | €158.32M/£142.49M |
2018-19 | Mariano Diaz | €21.50M/£19.35M | €90.10M/£81.09M |
2017-18 | Alexandre Lacazette | €53M/£47.70M | €119.55M/£107.60M |
2016-17 | Samuel Umtiti | €25M/£22.50M | €27.30M/£24.57M |
2015-16 | Clinton N'Jie | €14.10M/£12.69M | €26.80M/£24.12M |
2014-15 | Naby Sarr | €1M/£900,000 | €1.50M/£1.35M |
2013-14 | Dejan Lovren | €10M/£9M | €24.50M/£22.05M |
2012-13 | Hugo Lloris | €12.60M/£11.34M | €30.10M/£27.09M |
2011-12 | Jeremy Toulalan | €11M/£9.90M | €22M/£19.80M |
2010-11 | Jean II Makoun | €6.20M/£5.58M | €10.82M/£9.73M |
2009-10 | Karim Benzema | €35M/£31.50M | €53M/£47.70M |
2008-09 | Hatem Ben Arfa | €12M/£10.80M | €34M/£30.60M |
2007-08 | Florent Malouda | €19M/£17.10M | €63.50M/£57.15M |
2006-07 | Mahamadou Diarra | €26M/£23.40M | €47.33M/£42.59M |
2005-06 | Michael Essien | €38M/£34.20M | €43.40M/£39.06M |
2004-05 | Peguy Luyindula | €10M/£9M | €22.50M/£20.25M |
2003-04 | Jeremie Brechet | €3M/£2.70M | €4.15M/£3.74M |
2002-03 | Marc-Vivien Foe | €700,000/£630,000 | €700,000/£630,000 |
2001-02 | Steve Marlet | €17.60M/£15.84M | €28.78M/£25.90M |
2000-01 | Frederic Kanoute | €5.63M/£5.06M | €5.63M/£5.06M |
TOTAL | €1.006b/£905.9m |
*All figures are taken from Transfermarkt unless stated otherwise.