Houssem Aouar


Houssem Aouar is a French professional footballer who plays for Lyon as a midfielder.

Club career

Lyon

Aouar joined the Olympique Lyonnais Reserves and Academy in 2009 at the age of 11.
He signed a three-year professional contract at Olympique Lyonnais in July 2016. He made his first team debut in on 16 February 2017 in a 1–4 away win over AZ Alkmaar in the round of 32 of the knockout phase of the UEFA Europa League, replacing Sergi Darder after 84 minutes. Aouar scored his first goal for Lyon's first team a week later in the second-leg match against AZ Alkmaar
at Parc Olympique Lyonnais, which Lyon won 7–1. He made his Ligue 1 debut by starting in the away match against SC Bastia on 16 April 2017, but the match was abandoned at half-time with the score at 0–0. A win was given to Lyon three weeks later. He was nominated for the Golden Boy award in July 2018.
At the beginning of the 2017–18 season, despite having played only five competitive matches for Lyon's first team since he joined the club, Aouar was given the symbolic number 8 left free when Corentin Tolisso left the club for Bayern Munich in June 2017.
On 11 December 2019, Aouar scored a goal against RB Leipzig in a Champions League group stage match helping Lyon to secure their way into the Champions League round of 16.

Style of play

Aouar is a versatile attacking midfielder, who can play anywhere in midfield, and has been praised for his excellent technical ability and his calmness with the ball at his feet.

Personal life

Aouar is of Algerian descent. He holds Juninho and Zinedine Zidane, who is also of Algerian ancestry, as role models.

Career statistics

Club

1Includes UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League appearances.
2Includes Trophée des Champions appearances.