Said Benrahma only officially left West Ham on a permanent basis in the summer but he is already on the move to pastures new.
He may have divided opinion at times but West Ham will never forget Said Benrahma.
That penalty in Prague will live long in the memory of Hammers supporters.
Benrahma showed nerves of steel as he scored from the spot in the Europa Conference League final triumph over Fiorentina.
The Algerian winger left West Ham in the January transfer window last year.
Although he departed West Ham on loan amid controversial circumstances after the window had actually closed.
Lyon and West Ham have shared a strange relationship after their feisty Europa League encounter and subsequent record £51m deal which took Lucas Paqueta to east London.
Financially stricken Lyon still owe West Ham Benrahma money
The financially stricken French club slammed West Ham over their conduct in the Benrahma deal at the time.
Lyon were left red-faced, though, when it emerged technical issues were genuinely to blame for paperwork not being filed by the deadline.
West Ham agreed a total package of £17.3m with Lyon for the Benrahma deal. The French club confirmed those details on its website at the time.
Benrahma’s move was eventually ratified and West Ham were paid £5m by Lyon for the initial loan deal.
The tricky winger then completed his £12.3m permanent transfer to Lyon in the summer.
As confirmed by Lyon at the time there was also a 10 per cent sell on clause included by the Hammers in the deal.
Now the West Ham bonus cash situation can be clarified as Benrahma nears a move to Saudi.
Lyon have been handed a severe sanction by the Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion – The French football financial watchdog.
Benrahma nears Saudi move six months after permanent West Ham exit
The French giants, owned by John Textor, have been hit with a provisional relegation to Ligue 2 as well as a transfer ban and the supervision of their wages.
Lyon’s debt has reportedly risen to nearly £500m and Textor has pledged to sell players from his group of clubs to pay it down.
It seems Benrahma will be one of them just six months after his move from West Ham was made permanent.
Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna has exclusively revealed Benrahma is edging closer to a over to Saudi Arabia.
The former Hammer is in advanced negotiations with Neom SC.
No details of the fee have been released as yet. But Lyon had rejected an initial bid.
So where does that leave West Ham given the 10 per cent sell-on clause included in the deal?
With PSR now having a major influence on spending for Premier League clubs, every penny of income is vital.
After the ruling against the Ligue 1 side in November, West Ham’s owners revealed Lyon still owe the club money.
West Ham Benrahma bonus cash situation clarified
On one hand the Benrahma sale bodes well for the Hammers as it should guarantee the club gets its money for the original sale.
But there will only be bonus cash on one condition.
The 10 per cent sell-on clause will only come into effect on any profit Lyon make from Benrahma’s sale to Saudi.
At 29 and with only two goals and four assists to his name this season, it seems highly unlikely Neom will be paying in excess of the £12.3m Lyon paid West Ham.
However, for argument’s sake, if Lyon have have managed to bank a profit, West Ham will be due 10 per cent.
For example, if Neom pay £15m for Benrahma then West Ham would bank an extra £270k.
If he is sold for £20m then it would be £770k.
Either way not a huge amount in the grand scheme of things.
Including a 10 per cent sell-on always looked like a bit of a pointless exercise.
The biggest positive for West Ham in this situation, though, is the fact Lyon should be good for the original money now.
Though it should also be remembered, it would probably be offset against what West Ham owe Lyon for Paqueta.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
