Abdelkahar Kadri found the net in Kortrijk’s 2-0 win over Cercle Brugge, but the result was not enough to prevent the club’s relegation to Belgium’s second tier, the Challenger Pro League.
Despite a spirited display from Kadri and a determined Kortrijk side, results elsewhere sealed their fate.
Saint-Trond’s victory on the same day confirmed the drop for Kortrijk, bringing an end to their top-flight campaign in bitter disappointment. For Kadri, the match was another personal high point in an otherwise difficult season.
The 24-year-old Algerian, who hails from Hammamet, has been one of Kortrijk’s few bright spots during the relegation play-offs.
His performance against Cercle Brugge underscored his quality once more, converting a penalty and orchestrating much of the midfield play with authority and composure.
Over the course of the relegation phase, Kadri registered three goals and three assists in just five appearances, a tally that speaks to both his consistency and influence.
Kadri’s form, however, proved insufficient to reverse the club’s fortunes. The loss of top-tier status comes as a major blow for a side that had spent multiple seasons battling in Belgium’s highest division.
The sense of finality hit home following Saint-Trond’s win, which mathematically ensured Kortrijk’s fall into the second division, regardless of their own result.
Having spent four seasons at Kortrijk, Kadri is widely expected to seek a move away in the upcoming transfer window.
With his contract running until June 2026, the midfielder still holds market value, and interest is likely to intensify as clubs across Europe look to strengthen ahead of the new season.
The Algerian international’s performances in the relegation play-offs, in particular, have drawn attention, with his ability to perform under pressure and contribute decisively seen as a major asset.
Although Kadri has remained professional throughout the campaign, his ambitions clearly lie beyond the confines of Belgium’s second division.
His efforts to keep Kortrijk afloat were evident, but the team’s overall struggles have overshadowed his individual success.
For a player who once shone at Paradou in Algeria before making the move to Europe, a step up now appears not only logical but necessary for his continued development.
Kortrijk’s focus will now shift to rebuilding for life in the Challenger Pro League, but it is unlikely Kadri will be part of that process.
The club’s relegation marks a significant turning point—not just for the team’s future trajectory, but also for one of its most gifted players.
Kadri’s journey with Kortrijk may be coming to an end, but his next chapter looks poised to unfold on a higher stage.
Kadri 🆚 Cercle Bruges 🇧🇪
Gros match de Abdelkahar + 1 But pic.twitter.com/wXGFkWvGf6
— Paradou Ac Talents (@Paradoutalents) May 3, 2025
