Belgium, Bulgaria, Netherlands, Turkey, Italy, Greece
Six countries. Soon a seventh.
Ahmed Touba has built a career out of crossing borders. Brought through at Club Brugge, the 28-year-old centre-back has since played in Belgium, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Turkey, Italy and Greece. France was the gap on the map. Not for much longer.
Foot Mercato report the Algeria international is close to joining Le Havre on a season-long loan with no purchase option attached. The medical is still outstanding.
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He said no to two Dutch clubs to get here
None of this was inevitable. Monza were watching him in Italy. FC Utrecht and NEC Nijmegen both pushed hard from the Netherlands.
Touba turned all of them down, firmly, according to Foot Mercato. He wanted France and he held out for it.
A 28-year-old rejecting two concrete offers for a loan with no option to buy says something about what he is after. Le Havre are getting a player who chose them.
A defender who is already match fit
Le Havre are not signing someone who needs three weeks of conditioning. Touba has already logged three Conference League qualifying play-off matches for Panathinaikos this season.
He arrives with competitive minutes in his legs, which is precisely the profile a side in Le Havre’s position needs. No ramp-up.
A straight loan, an experienced centre-back, and no shortage of motivation. What happens at Stade Oceane is the part nobody can script.
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