| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 24 February 2007 | ||
| Place of birth | Meyzieu, France[1] | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Lyon | ||
| Number | 44 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2015 | US Meyzieu | ||
| 2016–2025 | Lyon | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2025– | Lyon B | 4 | (0) |
| 2025– | Lyon | 2 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023 | France U16 | 2 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 23 August 2025 | |||
Khalis Merah (born 24 February 2007) is a French professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Lyon.
Club career
[edit]Born in Meyzieu in the Metropolis of Lyon, Merah started his youth career at the local US Meyzieu. In July 2016, he joined the youth academy of region giants Lyon.[2]
On 24 February 2025, on his 18th birthday, Merah signed his first professional contract with Lyon, tying him to the club until June 2027.[3] He captained Lyon under-19s side during the 2024–25 season, before being integrated to Lyon reserves team that the end of the season, where he made his senior debut at the Championnat National 3.[4][5]
Ahead of the 2025–26 season, Merah was promoted to Lyon's first team by coach Paulo Fonseca.[6][7] He earned his first official appearance for Lyon on 16 August 2023 in a 1–0 away win over Lens during the first matchday of the 2025–26 Ligue 1, coming in as a substitute in the 66th minute.[8]
International career
[edit]Merah appeared twice for France U16 in March 2023.[9]
Playing style
[edit]Merah is a versatile midfielder. He is capable of anchoring the midfield as a defensive midfielder and as a central midfielder.[10][11] Despite his once slight physique, he has compensated with exceptional positional awareness. He is also known for his proficiency in set pieces.[12][13]
Personal life
[edit]Merah was born and raised in France to parents of Algerian descent.[14]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 23 August 2025
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Lyon B | 2024–25 | Championnat National 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Lyon | 2025–26 | Ligue 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| Career total | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
References
[edit]- ^ "Khalis Merah". fff.fr. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ^ "Football. OL : premier contrat professionnel pour le jeune Khalis Merah". Le Progrès. 25 February 2025.
- ^ "Communiqué de presse : 1er contrat professionnel pour Khalis Merah". Olympique Lyonnais (in French). 24 February 2025.
- ^ "OL : Khalis Merah, le nouveau diamant brut de l'académie lyonnaise" (in French). Ouest-France. 27 July 2025.
- ^ "Merah, "l'archétype du joueur sorti par l'OL"" (in French). Olympique et Lyonnais. 1 August 2025.
- ^ "Football. OL : qui sont les jeunes pousses de la pré-saison ?". Le Progrès (in French). 7 July 2025.
- ^ "Khalis Merah, la recrue inattendue de l'OL". Foot Mercato (in French). 31 July 2025.
- ^ "OLJorge Maciel impressionné par l'entrée de Khalis Merah face au RC Lens" (in French). Ouest-France. 17 August 2025.
- ^ "OL - Académie : première sélection pour Khalis Merah avec l'équipe de France U16". olympique-et-lyonnais.com (in French). 9 March 2025.
- ^ "Les Gones du mois (mars)" (in French). Café du Commerce. 12 April 2024.
- ^ "OL : Khalis Merah, le remplaçant trouvé à Cherki ?" (in French). Orange Sports.
- ^ "Khalis Merah : 5 choses à savoir sur la nouvelle pépite de l'OL". football365.fr. 26 July 2025.
- ^ "Franco-Algerian midfielder Khalis Merah impresses Fonseca with standout pre-season at Lyon". africasoccer.com. 2 August 2025.
- ^ "Un nouveau pro de l'OL éligible avec l'Algérie". Afrik Foot (in French). 25 February 2025.