Algeria star Mohamed Amoura closes in on Nice loan move

Algeria international Mohamed El Amine Amoura is set to join OGC Nice from VfL Wolfsburg on a season-long loan, with the French club holding an option to buy the striker for an estimated €20 million.

Nice are expected to complete the deal in the coming hours after agreeing a structure that does not oblige them to make the transfer permanent.

The move to the French Riviera comes after interest from several clubs, including two other Ligue 1 sides who had been monitoring the 24-year-old.

Stade Rennais and Olympique Lyonnais were both interested in Amoura, although neither club progressed their pursuit to an advanced stage.

Nice eventually emerged as the club willing to provide Wolfsburg with a solution through a loan agreement that includes a non-mandatory purchase option.

The reported €20 million option allows Nice to assess Amoura during the season before deciding whether to make his move permanent.

Wolfsburg’s decision to accept the arrangement comes after the Algerian’s market situation changed significantly over the past year.

The German club had previously received strong interest from Benfica, who wanted to sign Amoura for €30 million last summer. However, his performances during the 2025-26 season, particularly during its second half, led to a decline in interest.

Amoura struggled to produce his best form for both club and country during that period.

His recent international record has also reflected his difficulties in front of goal. The Algeria forward has gone nine appearances without scoring for the national team, although he has contributed three assists during that run.

It is his longest goal drought with the Greens.

Wolfsburg’s relegation to the German second division also contributed to the change in Amoura’s market value.

Despite those factors, Nice have decided that the striker remains worth pursuing, although their decision to use a loan with a non-obligatory purchase option means they are taking a cautious approach.

Udinese were also among the clubs linked with the Algerian, while Rennes and Lyon continued to monitor his situation.

Neither French club, however, reached an advanced stage in negotiations before Nice moved ahead of the competition.

For Nice, the agreement provides an opportunity to bring Amoura into their squad without committing immediately to a permanent transfer.

For the Algerian, the move represents an opportunity to regain the form that previously made him a highly sought-after player.

The striker will now have the chance to prove that his recent decline in goalscoring form was only a temporary setback.

His previous performances had generated significant interest, with Benfica willing to pay €30 million for him last summer.

That interest has since cooled, leaving Amoura with the task of rebuilding his reputation.

Nice’s decision to pursue him despite his recent struggles suggests there is still belief in his ability.

However, the French club’s loan arrangement means Amoura must now demonstrate his value on the pitch if he is to secure a permanent move.

The next stage of his career will therefore begin in Ligue 1, where he will look to rediscover his goalscoring touch and justify Nice’s confidence in him.