OL Groupe, which owns Lyon's men's and women's teams, announced on Thursday they had agreed to purchase Reign FC, the US club where Ballon d'Or winner Megan Rapinoe plays.

The holding company run by Jean-Michel Aulas is acquiring the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) outfit based in Tacoma, 30 miles south of Seattle, for $3.5 million (3.1 million euros).

Lyon said it expected to finalise the deal in January.

They have four straight women's Champions League titles and said in November they wanted to "consolidate its position ... as a major player in women's football in the world.

Lyon are buying 89.5 percent of Reign while former basketball star Tony Parker, recently named "ambassador of the Lyon brand in the United States" will have 3 percent.

Former owner Bill Predmore will keep 7.5 percent and continue the day-to-day management of the club.

Reign were a founder member of the NWSL in 2012. Two of its players, 2019 World Cup winner Rapinoe and Wales midfielder Jessica Fishlock, have featured for Lyon in the past.