Lille have confirmed that all parties have reached an agreement in which striker Éder joins the French side on an undisclosed fee.

The French outfit announced on their website that Éder has signed a four-year deal at the club where he spent the second half of the season on loan at.

The details

While it was announced as an undisclosed fee, Swansea City are rumoured to have recuperated near £4.5 million of the £5 million they spent on the striker less than a year ago.

In his 15 appearances for Swansea, he finished without a single goal or assist. In 14 appearances for Lille, Eder scored six goals and made four assists.

While his numbers don’t make for good viewing, many Swansea fans were sympathetic to Eder, who was usually behind Bafetimbi Gomis in the pecking order and didn’t have a great deal of luck when he did get playing time.

Éder (centre) has enjoyed great form with Lille. (Photo: Jean-Sebastien Evrard)
Éder (centre) has enjoyed great form with Lille. (Photo: Jean-Sebastien Evrard)

Possible replacements?

It’s unlikely that Swansea will sign a direct replacement for Éder, with two strikers in Gomis and Alberto Paloschi still at the club.

Although, on the same day Éder leaves the club, Swansea have also been linked with an €8 million move for Barcelona’s Sandro Ramirez.

Éder's loan move to Lille reignited his place in Portugal’s international squad, with his good run in form meaning he was named in Fernando Santos’ 23-man squad for the summer's European Championships.

A good move for all parties

Éder always had the promise to be a good striker, and showed flashes of it in South Wales, he just didn’t seem to fit the system in Garry Monk’s side.

In fairness, this season hasn’t been a favourable one for any Swansea striker, with both Éder and Gomis not quite getting the rub of the green. Paloschi has been promising, but it’s still too early to tell.

Lille manager Frederic Antonetti had his say on the deal, claiming: “His signing is good for the present and the future of LOSC (Lille),” clearly very pleased with the transfer.

"I am very happy he now belongs to the club."

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About the author
Jack Mceachen
Sports Journalist in Staffordshire University.