A 19-year-old defender out of Algiers
OGC Nice are ending their transfer window with a move for a defender. According to L’Equipe, the Eagles have struck an agreement with Paradou AC for Abdelhak Ben Idder. The Algerian centre-back is expected to sign a five-year deal.
The fee is modest. The transfer is being valued at 300 000 euros. At 19, Ben Idder already has one cap for Algeria.
Paradou AC are not just another Algerian club. The Algiers academy has been sending young players to Europe for more than a decade. Nice are playing the same game: spend little, back early, cash in later. The deal has not yet been confirmed by either club.
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A busy summer despite tight resources
Nice have had to work with a limited budget this summer. That has not stopped them from bringing in plenty of new faces.
Gauthier Hein arrived from FC Metz. Nathan Ngoumou left Borussia Monchengladbach. Laurent Abergel came in from Lorient. Axel Witsel joined the Gym from Girona. Mohamed Amoura landed from Wolfsburg. Elye Wahi arrived from Frankfurt.
Six signings, including several seasoned players and two international forwards. Ben Idder would round out the list as a long-term project, not an immediate fix. The club are betting on his upside rather than instant impact.
Sales helping to balance the books
Nice’s window has gone both ways. Melvin Bard is being linked with Leeds. Hicham Boudaoui has also reached an agreement with Al-Ittihad.
Those departures help fund the arrivals. They also free up space in a squad that has grown too big for comfort.
There are still a few hours left before the window shuts. Nice are not done yet.
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