Welcome home: France striker Lacazette returns to Lyon from Arsenal

France striker Alexandre Lacazette has signed a three-year deal with Lyon, leaving Arsenal after 5 years

France striker Alexandre Lacazette is going back to Lyon.

The 31-year-old forward, who was out of contract with Arsenal at the end of June, returned to the seven-time French champion on a three-year deal on Thursday.

Lacazette left Lyon in 2017 for a then club-record €60 million ($64 million) after joining the French league side at age 12. He played eight professional seasons with Lyon.

With Arsenal, Lacazette scored 71 goals in 206 appearances for the north London club. He made an instant impact in the English Premier League, scoring 94 seconds into his debut, and was Arsenal’s top scorer in two seasons. He lost his place to Eddie Nketiah over the final weeks of his last season.

Lacazette has 16 caps for France.

“Even without a European Cup to play, the project was more important than anything else,” Lacazette said. “I felt I could be useful in the dressing room and on the pitch, it was the best decision. It is moving to come back. I want to help the club to return to the top and qualify for Europe.”

Lyon, which struggled to an eighth-placed finish this season and won its last French league title in 2008, said Lacazette’s return was a priority over the last few months.