Adil Boulbina, the current top scorer in Algeria’s Ligue 1 and a standout performer for Paradou AC, is at the centre of a transfer saga that has taken an unexpected turn.
Despite advanced negotiations with Qatari giants Al-Duhail SC, the promising striker’s move abroad is now facing significant delays due to behind-the-scenes interventions.
With 18 goals to his name and three matches remaining in the 2024–2025 season, Boulbina has emerged as one of Algeria’s most exciting attacking talents.
His performances have caught the attention of multiple clubs, including English Championship side Hull City and Al-Duhail SC, who are both vying for his signature this summer.
Al-Duhail, who recently appointed former Algeria national team coach Djamel Belmadi, have reportedly made a strong financial offer to both the player and Paradou AC.
Sources close to the deal indicate that the Qatari club tabled a €3.2 million bid, coupled with a proposed salary of €140,000 for Boulbina—twice what Hull City are said to be offering. The English club’s bid stands at €1 million, with a conditional salary package of €70,000.
Despite Al-Duhail’s lucrative proposal and Belmadi’s personal endorsement of the move, progress has stalled. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, external parties have intervened by pressuring Boulbina’s father to reject the Qatari offer.
These individuals are believed to have argued that a move to the Gulf could jeopardise the player’s chances of earning a senior national team call-up, suggesting that staying in or moving to Europe would keep him in closer consideration for international selection.
This tactic appears to have had a significant effect. Although discussions between Paradou and Al-Duhail had reached an advanced stage, Boulbina is now said to be hesitant.
While he has not officially ruled out the move, the uncertainty surrounding national team prospects has left him weighing his options carefully.
The delay has forced Al-Duhail SC to begin exploring alternative targets. Time is a critical factor, and the club may not remain in the waiting game for long. Despite this, Belmadi remains keen to bring Boulbina into his squad, believing the young striker has the potential to flourish under his guidance and use the Qatari league as a springboard for future European opportunities.
From a financial and developmental standpoint, the offer from Al-Duhail is considered highly favourable for both Boulbina and Paradou AC.
However, the suggestion that national team ambitions could be compromised by moving outside Europe has added a layer of complexity to the decision-making process.
Boulbina, still only in the early stages of his career, is now at a crossroads. The coming weeks are likely to be decisive, with both clubs and player hoping for clarity before the summer transfer window gathers full pace.
As things stand, the situation remains fluid. The tug-of-war between financial security and international ambition is now shaping what could become one of the most talked-about Algerian transfers of the summer.
