Imadeddine Azzi has completed a permanent move from Russian side Dinamo Makhachkala to USM Alger, returning to the Algerian giants in a deal worth €355k. The 27-year-old centre-back has signed a contract with USMA running from 2026-02-02 to 2028-06-30, rejoining a club where he previously impressed during a loan spell. The transfer fee comes in just below his current market valuation of €400k, underlining USM Alger’s belief that they are securing value for money on a player entering his prime years.
The switch brings an end to Azzi’s stay in Russia, where he had been on the books of Dinamo Makhachkala in the Premier Liga. His move now places him back in Algeria’s top flight, Ligue 1, with USM Alger adding a tall, versatile defender who can operate at centre-back and is comfortable with both feet. For the Algiers club, it is a significant reinforcement in a key area of the pitch, as they look to solidify their back line for domestic and continental campaigns.
Azzi’s career path has taken him through several different football environments. After emerging in Algeria with MC Alger’s U21 side, he made his senior breakthrough at NA Hussein Dey, where his market value steadily climbed, peaking at €275k while still in the domestic league. In 2021 he took his first step abroad, joining Kuwaiti outfit Kazma SC, before a loan move to USM Alger in 2024-25 gave him his first spell at the club he has now joined permanently. Following the end of that loan, he briefly returned to Kazma SC, then moved on to Dinamo Makhachkala in 2025, where his valuation rose again to the current €400k.
During his previous stint with USM Alger, the Ouargla-born defender re-established himself in Algeria’s Ligue 1, contributing to a more resilient defensive record and helping the club reinforce its status as one of the country’s leading sides. That form, combined with his later performances in Russia, helped push his latest market valuation up from €350k at USM Alger in early 2025 to €400k after his spell at Dinamo Makhachkala. Standing at 1.93m and capable with either foot, Azzi brings aerial dominance and flexibility to a defensive unit that will be expected to compete at the top end of the table.
The new deal also reinforces the link between Azzi and USM Alger after several years of movement. From domestic development in Algeria to experiences in Kuwait and Russia, he now returns as a more seasoned professional with international exposure. With his contract locked in through 2028-06-30, USM Alger have secured a key defensive asset for the medium term, while Azzi gains stability at a club where he has already shown he can thrive.
