Ime Okon draws interest from France

Bafana Bafana defender Ime Okon has attracted strong interest from French Ligue 1 heavyweights Olympique Lyon and AS Monaco, Foot Africa has established.

The 22-year-old centre-half caught the eye at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he was a mainstay at the heart of defence alongside Mbekezeli Mbokazi.

He featured in all four matches in the tournament as South Africa exited the global showpiece after falling to a 1-0 defeat to co-hosts Canada in the Round of 32.

Okon arrived at the World Cup on the back of a stellar domestic campaign with Hannover 96 in the German Bundesliga 2, emerging as an influential figure at the back.

The stalwart made 26 appearances across all competitions last term, chipping in with two goals in what was his debut season in Europe after joining the club in July 2025.

Okon signed for Hannover on a free transfer from the now-defunct SuperSport United, putting pen to paper on a long-term deal that runs until June 2029.

Now, this publication has been informed that the Bafana international is on the radar of Lyon and Monaco, with the French teams said to be exploring a potential deal.

Meanwhile, Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit Columbus Crew are also understood to be closely monitoring the proceedings as Okon looks set to become highly-sought after.

However, with Hannover valuing the South African player north of €5.5 million, it remains to be seen whether a high-profile deal can materialize for Okon in the upcoming window.

Hlayisani Magoro

Editorfr, en

Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.

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