Lyon loan Sporting´s Lopes

Lyon have announced the signing of defender Miguel Lopes from Sporting on a season-long loan deal.

The 26-year-old defender only moved to the Estadio Jose Alvalade in January 2013, following the expiry of his contract with Sporting’s Primeira Liga rivals Porto.

But he has now secured a switch to Ligue 1 that could be made permanent, with Lyon also revealing they had to see off Porto’s attempts to re-sign the player in order to secure his services.

Lopes made just two appearances for Porto in 2012-13 prior to sealing his move to Sporting, but was handed 14 starts at the back-end of the campaign by Jesualdo Ferreira.

The former Benfica youth product has earned four caps for Portugal at senior level, and was part of the squad that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2012.

Lopes has also previously enjoyed spells with Rio Ave, Betis and Braga.

Lyon finished third in Ligue in 2012-13, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round as a result.