Billal Brahimi
|
Brahimi with Nice in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 March 2000[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Beaumont-sur-Oise, France | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Estrela Amadora (on loan from Santos) | ||
| Number | 26 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2015 | Cergy Pontoise | ||
| 2015–2016 | Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône | ||
| 2016–2017 | Leixões | ||
| 2017–2018 | Middlesbrough | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2019 | Middlesbrough | 0 | (0) |
| 2019–2021 | Reims B | 20 | (5) |
| 2020–2021 | → Le Mans (loan) | 34 | (12) |
| 2021 | Angers B | 1 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Angers | 9 | (0) |
| 2022–2025 | Nice | 42 | (3) |
| 2023–2024 | → Brest (loan) | 18 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | → Sint-Truiden (loan) | 27 | (2) |
| 2025– | Santos | 1 | (0) |
| 2026– | → Estrela Amadora (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018 | France U19 | 2 | (0) |
| 2022– | Algeria | 4 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:49, 13 October 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:21, 10 February 2023 (UTC) | |||
Billal Brahimi (Arabic: بلال براهيمي; born 14 March 2000) is a professional footballer who plays mainly as a winger for Primeira Liga club Estrela da Amadora, on loan from Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Santos. Born in France, he plays for the Algeria national team.
Club career
Early career
Born in Beaumont-sur-Oise, Brahimi played for the youth categories of amateur sides Cergy Pontoise and Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône before moving to Portugal in 2016 to pursue a professional career.[3] After one year at Leixões, he joined Middlesbrough on a ten-day trial period in the summer of 2017.[4]
Middlesbrough
After scoring three times in four matches, Brahimi was offered a two-year scholarship deal by Boro in August 2017, and started to feature with the under-18s.[4] He became a member of the under-23 squad ahead of the 2018–19 season, and made his first team debut for the club on 28 August 2018, in a 2–1 win over Rochdale in the EFL Cup, coming on as a substitute for Muhamed Bešić at the Riverside Stadium.[5]
Reims
On 25 July 2019, Brahimi moved to Ligue 1 club Reims on a free transfer, with Middlesbrough receiving compensation for the departure due to having attempted to renew his contract.[6][7] He cited a desire to move closer to his family in France as the motivation behind the move.[8]
Brahimi only played for the reserve team in the Championnat National 2, aside from being an unused substitute in two matches for the first team.
Loan to Le Mans
In August 2020, he joined Le Mans in the Championnat National on loan for the 2020–21 season.[9] He was a regular starter for the side, scoring a career-best 12 goals as they narrowly missed out a play-off spot, and was included in the division's Team of the Season.[10]
Angers
On 8 September 2021, Brahimi moved straight to Ligue 1 after signing a three-year contract with Angers.[11] He made his debut in the category fourteen days later, replacing Angelo Fulgini in a 0–0 home draw against Marseille.
Nice
On 28 January 2022, Brahimi joined Nice on a four-and-a-half-year deal,[12] for a reported fee of €10 million.[13] He was regularly used after his arrival, and scored a brace in a 3–0 home win over Ajaccio on 10 February 2023.[14]
Loan to Brest
On 1 September 2023, Brahimi was loaned to fellow top tier side Brest for one year.[15] Mainly a backup option, he featured in 20 matches overall, but was only able to amass two starts in the process.
Loan to Sint-Truiden
On 6 September 2024, Brahimi moved on loan to Sint-Truiden in Belgium, with an option to buy.[16] He scored the winner on his STVV debut against Oud-Heverlee Leuven in new coach Felice Mazzu's first game in charge.[17]
Return from loan
Back to Nice in July 2025, Brahimi managed to feature in the 2025–26 season opener, a 1–0 home loss to Toulouse, before terminating his contract by mutual consent on 1 September of that year.[18]
Santos
On 24 September 2025, Brahimi was announced at Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Santos FC on a contract until December 2026.[19] He made his club debut on 28 September, replacing Benjamín Rollheiser in a 2–2 away draw against Red Bull Bragantino.
Loan to Estrela da Amadora
On 3 February 2026, Primeira Liga side Estrela da Amadora announced Brahimi on a loan contract until June.[20]
International career
Born in France, Brahimi holds French and Algerian nationalities,[21][22] and played for the former nation's national under-19 team in 2018. On 27 May 2022, he was called up to the Algeria national team for two 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Uganda and Tanzania.[23]
Brahimi made his full international debut with Algeria on 4 June 2022, replacing Youcef Belaïli in a 2–0 win over Uganda at the Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers.[24]
Style of play
Brahimi can play anywhere along the forward line, but has appeared most frequently for Middlesbrough's academy sides as a left-winger.[1] After moving to France, he started to feature more regularly in the other flank.
Career statistics
Club
- As of 13 October 2025[25]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Middlesbrough U21 | 2018–19 | — | — | — | 1[b] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Middlesbrough | 2018–19 | EFL Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Reims B | 2019–20 | Championnat National 2 | 20 | 5 | — | — | — | 20 | 5 | |||
| Le Mans (loan) | 2020–21 | Championnat National | 34 | 12 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 12 | ||
| Angers B | 2021–22 | Championnat National 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Angers | 2021–22 | Ligue 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Nice | 2021–22 | Ligue 1 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | Ligue 1 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10[d] | 2 | — | 37 | 5 | ||
| 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25 | Ligue 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2025–26 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 42 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 2 | — | 57 | 5 | |||
| Brest (loan) | 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 | ||
| Sint-Truiden (loan) | 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 2 | ||
| Santos | 2025 | Série A | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2026 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 152 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 172 | 24 | ||
- ^ Includes Coupe de France, Belgian Cup
- ^ Appearance in EFL Trophy
- ^ Appearance in EFL Cup
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
International
- As of 14 September 2025[26]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 4 | 0 | |
Honours
Nice
- Coupe de France runner-up: 2021–22[27]
References
- ^ a b "Billal Brahimi". Middlesbrough F.C. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ "Billal Brahimi". OGC Nice. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ "Info FM : à la découverte de Bilal Brahimi, le jeune frenchy qui monte à Middlesbrough" [Info FM: Discovering Bilal Brahimi, the young Frenchman on the rise at Middlesbrough] (in French). Foot Mercato. 9 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ a b "Bilal Brahimi on a 'decisive' year & his Middlesbrough first team hopes". Teesside Live. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ "Middlesbrough 2–1 Rochdale". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ "Bilal Brahimi Gets Wish". gazettelive.co.uk. Teesside Live. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
- ^ "Info FM, Bilal Brahimi: «Impatient de montrer ce que je peux apporter à Reims»" [Info FM, Bilal Brahimi: "I cannot wait to show what I can bring to Reims"] (in French). Foot Mercato. 30 July 2019.
- ^ "Bilal Brahimi Returns To France". mfc.co.uk. Middlesbrough F.C. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
- ^ "Bilal Brahimi rejoint Le Mans FC en prêt depuis le Stade de Reims" [Bilal Brahimi joins Le Mans FC on loan from Stade de Reims] (in French). francebleu.fr. 8 August 2020.
- ^ "Football. Le Mans FC : Billal Brahimi dans l'équipe type de la saison de National" [Football. Le Mans FC: Billal Brahimi in the National Team of the Season] (in French). Ouest-France. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ Castanheira, Julien (8 September 2021). "Mercato Angers : Le SCO annonce l'arrivée de Billal Brahimi (officiel)" [Angers transfer market: SCO announce the arrival of Billal Brahimi (official)]. MadeInFOOT (in French). Ouest-France. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Billal Brahimi, a new Aiglon". www.ogcnice.com/en. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "Billal Brahimi quitte Angers pour l'OGC Nice" [Billal Brahimi leaves Angers for OGC Nice] (in French). Foot Mercato. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ "L'entrée fracassante de Billal Brahimi a sublimé la victoire de Nice contre Ajaccio en Ligue 1" [Billal Brahimi's stunning entrance capped Nice's Ligue 1 victory over Ajaccio] (in French). L'Équipe. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ "Billal Brahimi joins Brest on loan". OGC Nice. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ "Billal Brahimi is laatste zomeraanwinst van STVV" [Billal Brahimi is STVV's latest summer signing] (in Dutch). Sint-Truiden. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "Meteen Mazzu-effect: late goal bezorgt STVV eerste zege en doorbreekt ongeslagen status OHL" [Immediate Mazzu effect: late goal gives STVV first win and breaks OHL's unbeaten status] (in Dutch). Sporza. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ "Billal Brahimi leaves OGC Nice". OGC Nice. 1 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ "Atacante Brahimi é o novo reforço do Santos FC" [Forward Brahimi is the new addition of Santos FC] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 24 September 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
- ^ "Bem-vindo Billal Brahimi" [Welcome Billal Brahimi] (in Portuguese). CF Estrela da Amadora. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ "Bilal Brahimi : Le Franco-Algérien signe au Stade de Reims" [Bilal Brahimi: The Franco-Algerian signs for Stade de Reims] (in French). Africa Top Sports. 25 July 2019.
- ^ "Bilal BRAHIMI" (in French). UNFP.
- ^ "Algérie : la liste avec 7 nouveaux dont Omrani et Zedadka !" [Algeria: the list with 7 new members including Omrani and Zedadka!]. Afrik-Foot (in French). 27 May 2022.
- ^ "Algeria vs. Uganda - 4 June 2022 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
- ^ Billal Brahimi at Soccerway
- ^ "Billal Brahimi". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ "Ludovic Blas penalty wins French Cup for Nantes". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
External links
- Billal Brahimi at the French Football Federation (in French)
- Billal Brahimi – French league stats at Ligue 1 – also available in French (archived)
- Billal Brahimi – UEFA competition record (archive)