Mohamed Amine Amoura, Algeria’s rising football star, is edging closer to breaking Riyad Mahrez’s record as the most expensive transfer in Algerian football history, amid increasing interest from top European clubs.
Currently valued at €32 million by Transfermarkt, the 24-year-old forward has seen a meteoric rise in his market value since his move from ES Sétif to Europe in 2021.
In just four years, Amoura has gone from an unknown prospect to Algeria’s most valuable player.
His performances have turned heads in both the Bundesliga, where he currently plays for VfL Wolfsburg, and beyond, attracting interest from elite clubs in England and Germany.
Should the interest materialise into concrete offers in the summer transfer window, Amoura could potentially surpass the €67.8 million record Riyad Mahrez commanded in 2018 when he joined Manchester City from Leicester.
At that time, Mahrez had a market value of €50 million. Amoura’s current value may still be some way off that figure, but with Premier League giants like Liverpool and Arsenal reportedly monitoring him, that could soon change.
The former FC Lugano attacker’s journey from the Algerian domestic league to top-tier European football is a testament to his development.
When he first arrived in Europe in 2021, his market value stood at just €1.2 million. Since then, he has consistently impressed, particularly in recent months, during which his valuation jumped by €8 million.
This upward trajectory places Amoura ahead of fellow Algerian Islam Slimani in terms of market value. Slimani was signed by Leicester City in 2016 for €31 million from Sporting CP in Portugal, at a time when he was valued at €22 million.
If Amoura’s expected move surpasses that fee, he would become the second-most expensive Algerian player ever — ahead of Slimani and Saïd Benrahma, who joined West Ham for €26.5 million.
Beyond individual comparisons, Amoura is also on track to become the most expensive locally trained Algerian player in history.
That distinction would mark a significant moment for Algerian football, highlighting the development of talent within the country’s domestic system and the growing trust European clubs are placing in players from the region.
For now, the key to unlocking this next chapter will be consistency. With the summer window approaching and a host of clubs preparing to strengthen their squads, Amoura’s form in the coming weeks will likely determine just how high his transfer fee can climb.
If the bidding war anticipated by observers begins, there is every chance his name will be written alongside — or even above — Mahrez’s in the history books.
One thing is clear: Algeria has another star on the verge of a major European breakthrough.
