The €15‑million gamble that brings Rayan Cherki back to PSG

Rayan Cherki, dazzling last Sunday in the Premier League against Liverpool with Manchester City, completed his transfer to Paris Saint‑Germain for €15 million, bonuses included, well below a €40 million package mentioned the previous summer.

In the summer of 2024, John Textor, then at the helm of Olympique Lyonnais, failed to convince the young winger to extend his contract, which led the club to put him on the market.

PSG quickly negotiated the deal, scheduling a medical examination in the days that followed. Rayan Cherki publicly thanked Nasser Al‑Khelaïfi for his decisive role in the negotiations.

Dortmund's resurgence

A few days before the completion, Borussia Dortmund contacted the player, promising guarantees of playing time, an argument that PSG never offers under Luis Enrique.

"Everything was ready, except that Borussia Dortmund showed up at that moment by positioning itself in the middle and offering playing time, which Paris never guarantees. Rayan and his entourage thought it over and delayed a few days waiting to see if Dortmund would follow through on its statements," said a close source to the case.

Facing this pressure, the future double European champion ultimately chose to break off dialogue with Dortmund and confirm his commitment to the capital's club.