In a statement, Nottingham Forest said: “We wish Moussa all the best for the future and thank him for his contributions during his time at the club.”
Before the transfer was confirmed, Niakhate shared an emotional farewell message with Forest fans. He expressed gratitude to Reds supporters, players, staff, as well as owner Evangelos Marinakis and his son Miltos for their “love and support.”
On social media, Niakhate wrote: “Thank you for making me feel at home from day one. I always felt your love and support every time I stepped onto the pitch, but what’s incredible is that I felt it even more during my most difficult moments, particularly my injury. That was the most challenging time of my career, but everyone at Forest, from the staff to my teammates and the fans, gave me something to smile about every day, and I will never forget this.
“In the end, we achieved our objectives thanks to the combativeness and determination of the players and staff who were present during the return of this historic club to the elite. We experienced difficult moments together but also exceptional moments of joy at our famous City Ground, and I am happy and proud that we managed to maintain our Premier League status.
“And finally, a big thank you to Mr. Marinakis and Miltos for your trust in me and much more than that. Respect and consideration are the most important things to me, much more than football. And I can attest that you have been much more than owners to me; thank you.
“If I could change one thing about my time with you, I would change absolutely nothing. I will only keep wonderful memories of my time here. What I am happiest about is that I leave with the feeling that you have understood exactly who I am, and in turn, I learned that Nottingham Forest is more than a football club.”
Lyon confirmed the arrival of Niakhate and announced they paid £27 million to Forest for the player.
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