Oussama Darfalou has completed a move to Olympique Akbou, ending his spell as a free agent and returning to Algerian club football on a contract running from 2026-02-06 to 2027-06-30. The 32-year-old centre-forward joins the Ligue 1 side without a transfer fee after leaving his status as “Without Club,” and arrives with a current market value listed at €250k.
The switch reunites the experienced striker with domestic competition in Algeria, where Olympique Akbou compete in the top flight. Having most recently been unattached following a short stint at Chinese side Shaanxi Union, Darfalou’s arrival gives Akbou an immediately available, battle-hardened option through the middle of their attack. The deal, registered as a free transfer, represents a low-risk reinforcement for the club and a chance for the player to re-establish himself in a familiar footballing environment.
Darfalou’s career has taken him through several leagues and countries, providing Olympique Akbou with a forward who has operated in contrasting tactical and physical contexts. After progressing through Algerian youth systems at A Bou Saâda U21 and ES Sétif U21, he moved to USM Alger U21 and then into USM Alger’s senior team. That spell in Algiers, combined with earlier and later moves to RC Arbaa and CR Belouizdad, built his reputation in Algerian football and eventually paved the way for a switch abroad.
The striker left USM Alger for Vitesse Arnhem in the Netherlands, entering the Eredivisie and sampling European football at a higher tempo. Loan spells at VVV-Venlo and PEC Zwolle followed, along with a later move to FC Emmen, ensuring that Darfalou spent several years adapting to Dutch football’s technical and tactical demands. A subsequent transfer to Moroccan side MAS Fès added Botola Pro experience, while his move to Shaanxi Union in China broadened his résumé into Asian football before he became a free agent again.
Over the course of this journey, his market value has fluctuated, peaking around the €1 million mark during his prime years at USM Alger and Vitesse Arnhem before gradually declining to its current €250k level as he enters the latter stages of his career. That trajectory underlines both the weight of experience he brings and the reality that Olympique Akbou are recruiting a seasoned professional rather than an emerging prospect.
For Olympique Akbou, the acquisition of a right-footed, 1.87 m centre-forward with a long track record in Algeria, the Netherlands, Morocco, and China offers immediate depth and leadership in the attacking unit. For Darfalou, the move represents a concrete opportunity to secure regular minutes, extend his career at the top level of Algerian football, and potentially position himself for one last climb in value and status if he can rediscover consistent form over the length of his new contract.
