Algerians in Europe 2008 - 2009

[Al-khiyal]

Algerian ace set for Blues deal

Birmingham land Bouazza on loan

January 8, 2009 -- Birmingham City have signed midfielder Hameur Bouazza on loan from Fulham for the rest of the season.

The 23-year-old spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Charlton, scoring four goals, including one against the Blues, in 27 appearances.

Birmingham took advantage of a clause in the Algeria international's deal with the Addicks which allowed him to move in January.

Bouazza is set to go straight into the squad for Saturday's trip to Blackpool.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish told the club website the signing of Bouazza, who joined Fulham from Watford for £3m in August 2007, marked the end of a long pursuit.

"I've looked at him for a couple of years now and had him on the radar at Rangers," said McLeish.

"I thought he was a promising young player; quick, direct, knows the English system and can do a job when team work is required. He has done very well at Charlton.

"It was made clear to me that there was a clause that allowed him to move in January.

"I know Charlton probably feel aggrieved about it but we've done nothing wrong."

[Al-khiyal]

Liverpool veut Nadir Belhadj

Samedi 10 Janvier 2009 -- Le manager de l’international Algérien du club anglais « Portsmouth », Nadir Belhadj, a révélé l’éventuel transfert de ce dernier vers Liverpool, leader de la ligue anglaise. L’agent du joueur Nadir Belhadj a révélé à El Khabar que des managers proches de l’entraîneur de Liverpool, L’espagnol Rafael Benites, sont en train d’étudier la possibilité de racheter le contrat du joueur durant l’été prochain, il a indiqué que les mouvements de ces agents ont poussé la direction de Portsmouth et son coach Tony Adams à se dépêcher pour racheter le contrat de Belhadj du club Français « Lens » en contrepartie d’une somme de quatre millions d’Euros et demi. Son salaire mensuel a augmenté de manière significative, pour atteindre 120 milles Euros par mois (l’équivalent d’un milliards et 200 millions de centimes de dinars) durant les deux prochaines années, alors qu’il était aux environs de quatre vingt milles Euros (800 millions centimes de dinars) du temps où il jouait à Lens, et avant à Lyon. À une question relative à la date du supposé transfert du joueur Algérien, âgé de 26 ans, vers l’actuel leader de la ligue anglaise, l’orateur a répondu « il est prématuré d’en parler, et le dossier de Liverpool sera ouvert à la fin de la saison, et ça sera une bonne surprise pour tous les Algériens ». L’agent a révélé que Belhadj et les dirigeants de Portsmouth sont contents après le rachat du contrat de l’international Algérien de Lens, indiquant que « Nadir est content non seulement parce qu’il reste en Angleterre, où il brille de milles feux, mais aussi parce qu’il a élevé son salaire mensuel et il attire l’intérêt des meilleurs clubs anglais ».

[Al-khiyal]

Rangers: Bougherra staying, Hemdani leaving

January 20, 2009 -- Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra has insisted he has no plans to leave Ibrox, although his club and international team-mate, Brahim Hemdani, will be leaving Glasgow at the end of the season.

Bougherra has excelled as a replacement for Carlos Cuellar, who joined Aston Villa in the summer, this season and has been linked with a move away from the 'Gers throughout January, with the club’s financial problems cited as a reason.

Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has made no secret of his interest, but Bougherra has said he is happy at Rangers and currently has no plans to leave, something he feels could damage his international chances with Algeria.

"There are several reasons for this but the main one is I do not want to move clubs just a few weeks before we start the next World Cup qualifiers," he is quoted as saying by Setanta.com. "I want to keep my place in the squad. It is important to me.

"I do not want to jeopardise that by changing clubs. In addition, I play for a great club called Glasgow Rangers.

“This is where I have managed to raise the standard of my game and I think I can improve even more by staying here."

Hemdani, on the other hand, has said he will leave what he calls the ‘boring’ Scottish Premier League at the end of the season, with Spain his ideal destination.

"My contract ends this year and what is certain is I will leave Rangers to look for a new challenge," Hemdani said to The Daily Record. "The Scottish league is pretty boring outside of Old Firm games.

"There is very little real competition and the fact the club didn't qualify for the Champions League made things worse.

"The time is coming for me to leave and begin a new chapter in my career. Spain is the place that really appeals."

[Al-khiyal]

Newcastle take Algerian defender on trial

January 21, 2009 -- Newcastle United are looking over yet another player today, as they take another defender on trial at the club.

He is former Borussia Dortmund defender Ahmed-Reda Madouni.

The 6′3″ 28 year-old Algerian has played for Montpellier HSC (48 times, one goal), Borussia Dortmund (77 times, 3 goals), Bayer Leverkson (37 times, 3 goals) and is now playing at Al-Gharafa, a Qatari football club from Doha. where he has appeared 18 times.

The defender has apparently started a trial with Newcastle at the club’s Benton training headquarters.

Another player from the German League, Peter Lovenkrands of Schalke 04, we found out today will be given a contract through the end of the season by Newcastle, and then the club asses his situation further in the summer, depending how well Peter plays.

Ahmed-Reda Madouni has played for the last two seasons on a lucrative deal with Al-Gharafa, but started his career in 1996 at Montpellier.

He has played twice for the Algerian national side, and that’s about all we know about the player.

[Al-khiyal]

West Ham United turn to Algerian international

January 23, 2009 -- West Ham United Football Club are looking to bolster their back four.

Gianfranco Zola may be willing to let Calum Davenport leave Upton Park this month, but he is also keen to sign another defender before the end of the month.

Reports in the Daily Mail suggest the Italian coach has turned his attention to Algerian defender Antar Yahia, who is currently contracted to German club Bochum.

The 25-year-old is an important member of Marcel Koller’s side, but the Hammers hope they can make an offer the Bundesliga club can’t refuse.

[Al-khiyal]

Algeria's Bezzaz signs with Strasbourg

January 30, 2009 -- Algerian international midfielder Yassine Bezzaz signed with French club Strasbourg until 2011, AFP reported on Thursday (January 29th). Bezzaz joined second division club Valenciennes in 2005.

[Al-khiyal]

Mohamed Dahmane 2,5 ans au Club de Bruges

Vendredi 30 Janvier 2009 -- Le Club de Bruges tient son nouvel attaquant: Mohamed Dahmane. L'avant-centre montois était déjà dans le collimateur de Bruges depuis quelques temps. Cette fois-ci, il ralliera bel et bien la Venise du Nord pour une durée de 2 ans et demi, plus deux ans avec option. Il sera en concurrence avec Akpala et Sonck. Le Franco-algérien avait déclaré récemment "qu'il n'excluait pas un transfert". Il passera les tests médicaux d'usage cet après-midi.

Agé de 26 ans, Mohamed Dahmane était arrivé des Francs-Borains à Mons en 2005. Il avait ensuite rejoint le Racing Genk, où il ne joua que onze matches, en 2007, avant de revenir au Tondreau en janvier 2008. Son contrat expirait en 2011. Il sera brugeois pendant deux ans et demi. Il a inscrit 7 goals en 16 matches pour l'AEC Mons cette saison. Le montant du transfert, qui n'a pas été révélé, se situerait entre 400.000 et 500.000 euros.