Players
26 May 2026
Lindsey Heaps
The announcement of his departure at the end of the season
“It was tough, but I needed to talk to the team before the announcement. It was crucial for me because all the girls understood. It was important to make the decision and explain it to the club and the players; it allows you to free yourself and focus on football and the season. The most important thing now is to stay focused for the last five months. I’m going to give everything to win all the titles. It’s going to be difficult to leave because this isn’t just a club and football; it’s a real family. It’s very special to see how much the players appreciate each other in the group. The reactions to my decision really did me good. When you experience something like this, it’s truly special.”
Why Denver?
“It’s a new team, and when I saw it, I thought maybe one day I’d go there because it’s home. It’s a team close to my family and my boyfriend. But I didn’t know if it would be possible soon. I needed to see if it was the right decision. I also have a lot of respect for my club. It was difficult because I’m here and I want to stay focused. But after many conversations with Lyon and Denver, we were able to make the decision. If it were just about football, I would stay here because it’s the best team in the world, and Jona is one of the best coaches I’ve worked with, so it was difficult, but above all, it was a personal decision.”
His career in Lyon since his arrival in 2022
“It’s crazy. When I arrived here I thought it was going to be for 18 months, then I realized I couldn’t leave, that this was my club now and I wanted to stay. I thought I could give more. The club has given me everything. When I arrived, I never imagined I would become team captain, have the chance to be a leader and a captain alongside Wendie, Christiane, Ada, and Selma. That’s the most important thing for me. I’m captain of my national team, but it’s different here in Lyon, in another country and playing in French, so it’s really special for me. I want to be a role model for the younger players and I want to help the whole team. It’s not just about football; I also want to pass on my experience to all the players.”
Un mot sur Jonatan Giráldez
“I think Jona was the best choice. It’s the best club in the world with world-class players. For a coach, to come here and be able to teach such great players to improve again and again is very difficult. He brings his experience, he really wants to win, but he also pays attention to the players’ well-being. I’m learning a lot from him and his staff. Lyon has truly brought in the best possible coach. The players love being here and training. That’s very important in a club.”
Vincent Ponsot
Decision-making
“Our position was, ‘no, you’re not leaving,’ but with her testimony today, you have the full picture of what she is as a person. When you have a player, a manager, and a woman like that, you’re bound to listen and engage in dialogue. Denver’s arrival in the NWSL, for her, given her family situation, is a unique opportunity. And for us, if this opportunity arose, there was no question of preventing her from experiencing what she’ll experience by returning home. That’s a particularity of women’s soccer; we don’t just talk about contracts, we’re more focused on dialogue.”
Lindsey and the club
“She has given so much to the club since she arrived. For me, Lindsey is irreplaceable. She will always be unique, she is part of our family, she is at home here. She will come back whenever she wants. But there is no need to worry about the club’s ambition. We demonstrated again this summer that we are capable of recruiting, this desire for constant performance continues. We have Lily Yohannes, Korbin Schrader, Damaris Egurrola, Melchie Dumornay and we extended Inès Benyahia’s contract.”
A word about the crowds
“We knew that playing all our matches at Groupama Stadium was a huge challenge for us, but we didn’t necessarily have a choice. We’re making great strides, averaging over 5,000 spectators. We’re continuing to develop our project with this spectator experience and our women’s football network, so we’re progressing across the board. Groupama Stadium has a capacity of 58,000, and when we only get 5,000 or 6,000, it feels a bit empty. We’re in that in-between phase, and even though we’re progressing everywhere, we need to accelerate. The appetite for women’s football exists, in Lyon too, so now it’s up to us to find the right opportunity to convince people to come to the stadium. There are things we need to do better, but we also need some help. Playing on Wednesday evenings or at 9 pm isn’t ideal. You need resilience, and I have it, so we’ll keep fighting. I have no regrets about what’s been done, even though it’s an investment for us.” “Very important. This team deserves a stadium that isn’t just a training ground. It’s the very least we owe these players.”
