Just hours after his tenure with Esperance de Tunis officially came to an end, Youcef Belaili has already secured the next chapter of his career. Following a statement from the Tunisian club announcing the definitive breakdown of contract extension negotiations, MC Alger officially confirmed an agreement with the Algerian international for his return. MCA announced it reached a final deal with Algerian international Youcef Belaili to rejoin the reigning Algerian champion, following a standout 2023-2024 campaign with the Doyen.
This announcement follows the decision by ES Tunis, which stated Friday in an official release that it had definitively halted talks to extend Belaili’s contract, despite a prior understanding between the two sides. In a statement released late Friday evening, MCA management indicated that an agreement was finalized following a meeting attended by Belaili, his father, his agent, and club general manager Djamel Benlamri.
“The management of MC Alger informs its loyal supporters that it has reached a definitive agreement with international player Mohamed Youcef Belaili to reinforce the squad ahead of upcoming competitions. This agreement was concluded following a meeting attended by the player, his father, his agent, and team manager Djamel Benlamri,” the release specified.
The club added that “the deal outlines Belaili’s return to the Doyen of Algerian clubs for the 2026-2027 sports season, following full consensus on financial terms and related details. The official activation of this agreement will take effect immediately following the final ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the player’s sanction, subject to passing a medical examination.”
However, MCA emphasized that “while it welcomes the return of its former player, it remains committed to protecting the interests of both the club and Youcef Belaili, adhering strictly to legal procedures regarding FIFA sanctions. It is legally impossible to register a contract with an internationally suspended player without exposing the club to severe penalties.”
Despite these legal precautions, Mouloudia leadership expressed total confidence in the outcome. They reaffirmed their full commitment to honoring the pact with the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations champion and expressed eagerness to see him wear the green and red colors once his legal status is cleared.
This return sets up a reunion between Belaili and a club he knows inside out. During the 2023-2024 season, the Algerian winger served as a primary architect behind MCA’s league championship triumph. Delivering elite performances, he played an instrumental role in returning the Doyen to the summit of domestic football. Should the CAS ruling swing in his favor, Youcef Belaili is poised to script a fresh chapter with Mouloudia, where supporters eagerly await his return to peak form.
Finally, the three-time Algerian champion reiterated “its commitment to securing the player’s services and its dedication to fulfilling all terms agreed upon during the meeting, while awaiting the CAS decision to formally finalize his return to the green and red ranks.”