Khalis Merah

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Khalis Merah
Personal information
Date of birth (2007-02-24) 24 February 2007 (age 18)
Place of birth Meyzieu, France[1]
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position 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 9 (0)
International career‡
2023 France U16 2 (0)
2025– France U19 4 (2)
2025– France U20 2 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 30 November 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 18 November 2025

Khalis Merah (born 24 February 2007) is a French professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Lyon.

Club career

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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 2025 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] Shortly after his professional debut, on 26 August, Merah extended his contract with Lyon until 2029.[9] Five days later, he earned his first start for Les Gones, playing 71 minutes in the 1–0 victory over Marseille in the Choc des Olympiques.[10] Following his impressive performances, Merah was given the Pépite du mois award for the best youth talent of the month in Ligue 1.[11]

International career

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Merah appeared twice for France U16 in March 2023.[12]

In October 2025, Merah was initially called up to France U20 squad for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, but Lyon refused to release the player as the competition was held outside the FIFA International Match Calendar.[13]

Playing style

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Merah is a versatile midfielder. He is capable of anchoring the midfield as a defensive midfielder and as a central midfielder.[14][15] Despite his once slight physique, he has compensated with exceptional positional awareness. He is also known for his proficiency in set pieces.[16][17]

Personal life

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Merah was born and raised in France to parents of Algerian descent.[18]

Career statistics

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As of match played 11 December 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Lyon B 2024–25 National 3 4 0 — — — 4 0
Lyon 2025–26 Ligue 1 9 0 0 0 6[a] 0 — 15 0
Career total 13 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 19 0
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

References

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  1. ^ "Khalis Merah". fff.fr. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Football. OL : premier contrat professionnel pour le jeune Khalis Merah". Le Progrès. 25 February 2025.
  3. ^ "Communiqué de presse : 1er contrat professionnel pour Khalis Merah". Olympique Lyonnais (in French). 24 February 2025.
  4. ^ "OL : Khalis Merah, le nouveau diamant brut de l'académie lyonnaise" (in French). Ouest-France. 27 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Merah, "l'archétype du joueur sorti par l'OL"" (in French). Olympique et Lyonnais. 1 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Football. OL : qui sont les jeunes pousses de la pré-saison ?". Le Progrès (in French). 7 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Khalis Merah, la recrue inattendue de l'OL". Foot Mercato (in French). 31 July 2025.
  8. ^ "OL: Jorge Maciel impressionné par l'entrée de Khalis Merah face au RC Lens" (in French). Ouest-France. 17 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Khalis Merah prolonge jusqu'en 2029". Olympique Lyonnais (in French). 26 August 2025.
  10. ^ "OL : apprentissage express pour Khalis Merah contre l'OM". Olympique et Lyonnais (in French). 3 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Khalis Merah (OL) élu "Pépite du mois d'août" en Ligue 1". Lyon Foot (in French). 19 September 2025.
  12. ^ "OL - Académie : première sélection pour Khalis Merah avec l'équipe de France U16". olympique-et-lyonnais.com (in French). 9 March 2025.
  13. ^ "Les clubs ont-ils fait jouer les jeunes qu'ils ont refusé d'envoyer à la Coupe du monde U20 ?" (in French). L'Équipe. 21 October 2025.
  14. ^ "Les Gones du mois (mars)" (in French). Café du Commerce. 12 April 2024.
  15. ^ "OL : Khalis Merah, le remplaçant trouvé à Cherki ?" (in French). Orange Sports.
  16. ^ "Khalis Merah : 5 choses à savoir sur la nouvelle pépite de l'OL". football365.fr. 26 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Franco-Algerian midfielder Khalis Merah impresses Fonseca with standout pre-season at Lyon". africasoccer.com. 2 August 2025.
  18. ^ "Un nouveau pro de l'OL éligible avec l'Algérie". Afrik Foot (in French). 25 February 2025.
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