Ahmad Benali has left Virtus Entella and is now a free agent after his contract with the Serie B club came to an end, becoming “Without Club” on 2026-02-02. The move was completed without a transfer fee, with his registration simply expiring and the Libyan-English midfielder officially entering the market. His latest market valuation stands at €300k, underlining that an experienced central midfielder is suddenly available on a free.
The 33-year-old departs Virtus Entella after joining the club from SSC Bari for the 2025–26 season, a switch that continued a long-running association with Italian football. His new status as unattached effectively means his next destination could be anywhere, opening up the possibility that he will continue his career abroad rather than in his countries of nationality, Libya and England. As “Without Club” is a placeholder rather than a team in any organised competition, Benali is now free to negotiate with interested sides in any league.
Born in Manchester and holding Libyan and English nationality, Benali has spent almost his entire professional career in Italy. After progressing from Manchester City’s youth ranks into the senior squad, with an early loan spell at Rochdale, he left England for Brescia in 2012. That move began a sequence of transfers that took him through several Italian clubs: Brescia, Palermo, Pescara, Crotone, Pisa, back to Brescia, then Bari, and most recently Virtus Entella. Over that period he became a familiar figure in Serie B and, at times, in the upper reaches of Italian football, operating predominantly as a central midfielder and favouring his right foot.
His market value history charts the arc of a solid career. Having first been valued at €75k at Manchester City, he rose steadily, peaking at around €3m during his productive years at Pescara. Subsequent spells at Crotone and Pisa saw him maintain a seven-figure valuation before a gradual decline as he moved into his thirties, eventually reaching €300k by the end of 2025 at Virtus Entella. The latest valuation reflects both his age and experience, positioning him as a relatively low-cost but seasoned option for clubs seeking midfield stability.
Benali’s long stay in Italy has given him extensive exposure to Serie B, with earlier appearances in other Italian competitions through clubs like Palermo and Pescara. However, the current registration with “Without Club” is not tied to any league or country, reinforcing the notion that his next contract could see him compete in a new environment. While the data does not specify interested suitors, it confirms that there is no transfer fee attached to his departure from Virtus Entella and that the change of status became effective on 2026-02-02.
With no contract end date now binding him to any side, the next step in Benali’s career will depend on which club is prepared to invest in his experience and leadership in central midfield. His track record across multiple Italian teams, combined with his dual Libyan-English background and modest current valuation, makes him a flexible option for sides in need of a veteran presence. How quickly he secures a new deal, and in which country, will go a long way to determining the final chapter of a career that has already spanned youth football in England and a long stint in the Italian professional game.
