Houssem Aouar: Real Betis eye move for Algeria and Al-Ittihad playmaker

Houssem Aouar, the Algeria international midfielder currently at Al-Ittihad, is being linked with a move to LaLiga side Real Betis as the Spanish club explore options to strengthen their attacking midfield.

Betis are monitoring the 28-year-old after two seasons in the Saudi Pro League, where he has delivered 20 goals and seven assists in 53 league appearances for Al-Ittihad. Any deal is likely to be complex, with Aouar under contract in Jeddah until 30 June 2028 and currently valued at around €8m.

Aouar, who was born in Lyon and has represented both France and Algeria at international level, joined Al-Ittihad from Roma in July 2024 for a fee in the region of €10.5m. He went on to play a central role as the club won the Saudi Arabian league title and Saudi Cup in the 2024-25 campaign, enhancing his reputation as a creative presence between midfield and attack.

The midfielder has also impressed on the continental stage for Al-Ittihad, scoring six times in eight AFC Champions League appearances, and he arrives on Betis’ radar at a time when the Andalusian club are looking for proven experience in European competition. During his earlier spell at Lyon, he featured regularly in Ligue 1 and made 15 UEFA Champions League appearances, contributing nine assists.

Aouar is currently involved in the 2026 World Cup, where he has recorded two assists in three matches for Algeria, further underlining his form at international level. For now, Al-Ittihad retain a strong contractual position, with Betis expected to weigh up whether to test the Saudi champions’ resolve later in the window.