FC St. Pauli excited: Does Eric Smith leave Lyon?

FC St. Pauli excited: Does Eric Smith leave Lyon?

St Pauli, Deutschland - Summer is not only the time for grillproof and vacation, but also for hotly discussed transfers in football. FC St. Pauli is particularly active this year when it comes to the player carousel. With rumors about possible departures and new additions, the club keeps the fans in suspense, especially when it comes to the co-captain Eric Smith.

Current reports from France show that Olympique Lyon is very interested in the 25-year-old midfielder. According to an article by St. Pauli24, Smith is seen as an important player for the French league. But the question remains open how realistic a farewell to the player from the Kiezkickers is really at the moment. In particular, the contractual provisions and the possibility of Lyon to sign new players are unclear.

Smith: undisputed key player

Eric Smith is one of the best players in St. Pauli - the talent of the midfielder is undisputed. As reported by the transfer market, he was extremely important for the team last season both on the defensive and in the offensive position. His skills and experience make him an indispensable part of the team. In addition, Smith has been taking a leadership role in the team for years, which made him co-captain.

To the transfers this summer a number of other departures could be added, including players like Burchert, Eggestein, Guilavogui, Boukhalfa and possibly also loyal. In this context, a change from Smith could leave a huge gap in the squad. In addition, there are considerations within the club management that a sale of Smith could only be done with enormous financial resources, since there is no adequate replacement at a similar price.

happy in Hamburg

Despite the interest from Lyon, Smith feels comfortable in Hamburg. End of 2024, he extended his contract in the long term, and both he and his family have settled in well in the city. Smith himself made it clear that he sees his future at FC St. Pauli as long as the club remains competitive and plays in the Bundesliga. According to the association's words, he would only think about a possible change if the conditions should change.

The next few weeks will show whether an agreement with Lyon is actually evident or whether FC St. Pauli can keep its dazzling talent in its ranks. With a talented player like Eric Smith, it will certainly not be an easy task to keep the team competitive if other key players should also leave the club.

For more information about transfers and current developments at FC St. Pauli, fans can find out on Kicker or the discussions Transfermarkt.