Said Benrahma admitted relief after seeing his move to Lyon rubberstamped.
The winger's move from West Ham was confirmed after it had appeared to have collapsed on transfer deadline day.
"It was hard, but I believed in it. For me, everything was signed, there wasn't going to be all this history. At midnight they said, 'It's dead'. But I saw Lyon's work, straight away, they were calling," he recalled to OL's website.
"I said to my best friend: 'we're going to stay, I feel good about it'. They sent the paperwork this morning (yesterday) when the time had passed.
I received a few messages on Instagram, comments. What I saw touched me. I even liked a comment that said: 'don't worry, we'll bring you back no matter what'.
I had a welcome that I didn't expect. I was apprehensive but it's nice. That the transfer happened, I'm super happy. Now I'm waiting to be on the field. It was difficult yesterday (Thursday). I was disappointed. I didn't think it was going to happen but Lyon did everything very well.
After everything that happened with Lyon. We've been talking for a month and a half. It was complicated but they were so good to me. They showed real interest in me. It was a relief when it became official.
"I had this need for a club that gave me this love. And I felt it with David Friio, the coach, the president John Textor. I'm very happy really."