Brazil’s Botafogo SAF has formally notified Olympique Lyonnais that it wants roughly €73 million reimbursed for a series of player moves it says were completed on “materially inferior” terms to prop up the cash-strapped French club, according to a document seen by O Globo. The letter, signed by Botafogo chief executive Thairo Arruda and dated 18 July, details transfers between July 2024 and March 2025, including the €7.6 million sale of Venezuelan forward Jefferson Savarino and discounted deals for Brazilians Luiz Henrique and Igor Jesus. Botafogo says it also loaned midfielder Thiago Almada to Lyon free of charge while covering his salary, and advanced portions of transfer proceeds through private-credit funds to ensure Lyon received cash despite a registration ban imposed by France’s financial watchdog, the DNCG. The Rio de Janeiro club argues the moves caused it significant financial loss but allowed Lyon to finish sixth in Ligue 1 and qualify for the Europa League. Lyon has 30 days to pay the sums owed directly to the funds involved and to compensate Botafogo for the advances and alleged administrative irregularities, or face potential legal action. Separately, Botafogo has rejected an offer from West Ham United for goalkeeper John while submitting a counter-proposal, and has reached an agreement with Bournemouth to sign veteran keeper Neto without a transfer fee, giving the Premier League side considerable salary savings.