Defender Dayann Methalie has returned to Toulouse FC after a medical problem delayed his 30 million euro move to English club Sunderland.
The left-footed defender flew to England after Sunderland agreed a transfer fee with Toulouse last weekend, but French news outlet RMC Sport reported that tests revealed a back issue during his physical examination.
Methalie arrived in the United Kingdom with significant attention, after media outlets widely shared images and footage of the France under-21 international stepping off a private jet. However, the unexpected medical hitch prevented the completion of his contract signing with the Wearside club.
Sunderland, who finished seventh in the Premier League last season, had reached an agreement with Toulouse over the weekend to secure the young defender in a deal valued at nearly 30 million euros.
Medical Assessment in Toulouse
Having returned to southwestern France, the defender is scheduled to undergo additional medical examinations with Toulouse medical staff to determine the exact nature and severity of the back discomfort.
The physical issue is not expected to automatically prevent the transfer from going through. Toulouse officials view the complication as a temporary delay rather than a cancellation of the deal.
Toulouse rely heavily on the prospective 30 million euro transfer fee, which underpins the rest of their summer transfer window activity before the European market closes on September 1.
Background of the Defender
Methalie developed through the youth academy at Toulouse, based in the Haute-Garonne department of southwestern France. He made his senior breakthrough in Ligue 1 early last season under head coach Carles Martinez Novell.
The left-sided defender established himself as one of the club's key defensive prospects, earning caps for the France national under-21 squad, known as the Espoirs. He was left out of Toulouse's recent pre-season friendly matches ahead of his proposed move to English football.
Carles Martinez Novell, who took charge of Toulouse in June 2023, has placed strong emphasis on integrating academy talent into the first team at the Stadium de Toulouse.
Toulouse Move Quickly in Transfer Market
Following the initial agreement for Methalie's departure, Toulouse accelerated negotiations to sign midfielder Thomas Jorgensen, who has arrived in France to complete his contract.
Toulouse also officially announced the signing of German international defender David Odogu on loan from Italian club AC Milan on Tuesday.
The loan deal for Odogu marks the first official player transaction between Toulouse FC and AC Milan since American investment firm RedBird Capital Partners acquired ownership stakes in both clubs.
RedBird Capital Partners completed its takeover of Toulouse in 2020 before acquiring AC Milan in 2022, creating a multi-club network that has now produced its first direct player movement.
