Lyon have signed United States international Tanner Tessmann from Venezia, the Ligue 1 club said in a statement on Tuesday.
Tessmann signed a contract until June 30, 2029, after ESPN reported the clubs had agreed a transfer fee worth €7 million ($7.8m).
Tessmann, 22, spent the last three seasons at Italian side Venezia, in Serie A and then Serie B.
“Olympique Lyonnais is delighted to welcome Tanner Tessmann, who becomes the first American in history to wear the club’s jersey,” the club said in a statement.
Lyon, owned by American billionaire John Textor, are looking to grab their first points this season after opening the campaign with two losses.
Tessmann made 20 Serie A appearances for Venezia before its relegation to Serie B at the end of the 2021-22 season. He was a key contributor as the club was promoted back to Italy’s top division last season, missing just one game while contributing seven goals and three assists.
He has made two appearances for the senior U.S. men’s national team, making his debut in January 2021.
Information from Reuters contributed to this report.