# Maxime Gonalons

Maxime Gonalons (born 10 March 1989) is a French former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

## Club career
### Youth career

Gonalons had been with Lyon since the age of 10 climbing through the club's youth sections after joining the club from local outfit Villefranche. For the 2007–08 season, at the age of 18, he was promoted to the club's Championnat de France Amateur team appearing in 26 matches scoring two goals. Lyon finished in a respectable 7th in their group, but weren't allowed progression to the playoffs. The next season, he again spent with the CFA squad, however, during the summer leading up to the season, Gonalons picked up a staph infection on his ankle, which was, at one point, deemed career threatening with reportedly future diagnosis of sepsis and amputation. However, over the course of the season, Gonalons gradually got back into playing shape and eventually returned to the team. He made 24 appearances scoring 3 goals, one each against local rivals Lyon Duchère and Saint-Étienne, and one against Marignane. Lyon finished first among professional clubs in the group and qualified for the playoffs. Gonalons started both the 4–3 semi-final win on penalties and the 3–0 victory over Sochaux in the final picking up a yellow card.

### Lyon

Following the season, on 6 July 2009, Gonalons signed his first professional contract agreeing to a one-year deal with the club. The club does have the option to keep him for the next two seasons over after the one-year deal expires. Gonalons was assigned the number 41 shirt and trained with the senior team during pre-season. He made his professional debut on 25 August 2009 in the second leg of the club's UEFA Champions League play-off round match against Anderlecht appearing as a substitute in the 73rd minute for Jérémy Toulalan.
On 20 October, after coming on as a 42nd-minute substitute for the injured Cris, Gonalons scored his first professional goal against Liverpool at Anfield, in the 72nd minute, in the UEFA Champions League. The equalizing goal drew the match level at 1–1 and Lyon went on to win the match 2–1 with a goal from César Delgado in injury time. On 16 January 2010, Gonalons scored his first career league goal against Nancy. Ten days later, Gonalons and Lyon agreed to contract extension, which will keep the midfielder at the club until 2014.
Gonalons played a total of 330 games for Lyon and is eighth on the all time appearance list for the club.

### Roma

On 3 July 2017, Gonalons signed a four-year contract with Roma.

#### Sevilla (loan)

On 20 August 2018, Sevilla announced the signing of Gonalons on a season-long loan.

### Granada

On 2 September 2019, Gonalons joined Granada in the Spanish top tier, on a one-year loan deal. He signed permanently with the club for €4 million.

### Clermont and retirement

On 1 July 2022, Gonalons returned to France and signed with Clermont for two years with an option to extend. On 29 May 2024, it was confirmed that he would leave at the end of his contract.
On 16 October 2024, free agent Gonalons announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 35.

## International career

On 11 November 2011, Gonalons received his first cap for the French senior team in a friendly match against the United States.

## Personal life

Gonalons was born in Vénissieux, Metropolis of Lyon. He is the cousin of the footballer Lucas Camelo.

## Career statistics
### Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Lyon | 2009–10 | Ligue 1 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 | — | — | 27 | 2 |
| Lyon | 2010–11 | Ligue 1 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 0 |
| Lyon | 2011–12 | Ligue 1 | 35 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | — | 52 | 3 |
| Lyon | 2012–13 | Ligue 1 | 35 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 4 |
| Lyon | 2013–14 | Ligue 1 | 36 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 1 | — | — | 54 | 1 |
| Lyon | 2014–15 | Ligue 1 | 35 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 42 | 2 |
| Lyon | 2015–16 | Ligue 1 | 33 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| Lyon | 2016–17 | Ligue 1 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 1 |
| Lyon | Total | Total | 242 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 60 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 334 | 13 |
| Roma | 2017–18 | Serie A | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 |
| Sevilla (loan) | 2018–19 | La Liga | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | 13 | 1 |
| Granada (loan) | 2019–20 | La Liga | 19 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 1 |
| Granada | 2020–21 | La Liga | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 0 |
| Granada | 2021–22 | La Liga | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 0 |
| Granada | Total | Total | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | — | — | 65 | 0 |
| Clermont | 2022–23 | Ligue 1 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 1 |
| Clermont | 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 1 |
| Clermont | Total | Total | 46 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 48 | 2 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 383 | 9 | 25 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 84 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 508 | 16 |
* ↑ Includes Coupe de France, Coppa Italia, Copa del Rey
* ↑ Includes Coupe de la Ligue
* 1 2 3 4 5 Appearances in UEFA Champions League
* 1 2 3 4 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
* 1 2 3 Appearance in Trophée des Champions
* ↑ Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| France | 2011 | 2 | 0 |
| France | 2012 | 4 | 0 |
| France | 2014 | 1 | 0 |
| France | 2015 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 8 | 0 |

## Honours

Lyon
* Coupe de France: 2011–12
* Trophée des Champions: 2012