Chiakha’s Trondheim revival puts Norwegian transfer record within reach

Amin Chiakha is on the verge of securing a place in Norwegian football history, with Rosenborg seeking to make his loan move permanent after a dramatic revival in the Algeria international’s career.

The Trondheim club are understood to want to activate the 20-year-old forward’s purchase option, which is set at 37.5m Norwegian kroner approximately €5m.

Only an agreement with Chiakha remains before the deal can be completed. If the transfer goes through at that fee, he would become the most expensive signing in the history of the Norwegian championship.

It would represent a major vote of confidence in a player whose progress had stalled in the country where he was born.

Chiakha had initially been regarded as one of FC Copenhagen’s brightest prospects. He attracted considerable attention at an early age, including when he scored twice in a European match against Basaksehir in November 2024.

However, his opportunities in the Danish club’s rotation subsequently became limited. Rather than leave Scandinavia, Chiakha moved to Trondheim in search of regular first-team football and a chance to rebuild his momentum.

That decision has proved highly successful. He scored 16 goals last season, established himself as an important member of the Rosenborg squad and saw his reputation rise again.

A permanent move would cap a significant turnaround for the forward, who had been forced to look elsewhere after losing ground at FC Copenhagen.

Chiakha also committed his international future to Algeria at an early stage of his senior career. Born in Copenhagen to an Algerian father and a Danish mother, he chose to represent the Fennecs in 2024 and made his international debut in the same year.

“I chose Algeria without the slightest hesitation,” he said at the time, while outlining major ambitions with the national team. Chiakha said he wanted to play at an Africa Cup of Nations, feature at a World Cup and eventually challenge for Algeria’s all-time goalscoring records.

He was called up in March ahead of the 2026 World Cup but was then left out of the final squad, an omission he experienced as a major disappointment.

A permanent transfer to Rosenborg, followed by another productive season, could therefore come at an important moment in Chiakha’s international career. Algeria are set to appoint a new manager soon, and the forward is determined to put himself back at the centre of the national-team picture.

For Rosenborg, completing the deal would secure the services of a player who has already made a decisive impact at the club. For Chiakha, it would mark the latest step in a rapid recovery and potentially make him the most expensive player ever transferred within Norway’s top flight.