Antoine Conte has left Turkish side Igdir FK to become a free agent, completing a move to “Without Club” status after the expiry of his deal with the 1. Lig outfit. The transfer was processed as a free move on 2026-02-05, with no fee involved, despite the centre-back still being valued at €600k at the time of his release. His new contract as an unattached player has no fixed end date, leaving the 32-year-old free to negotiate with interested clubs worldwide.
The Paris-born defender, who holds both Guinean and French nationality, departs Igdir FK after a spell in Türkiye’s second tier, adding another chapter to an already wide-ranging career. With his registration now listed under “Without Club” in the N/A category and no league attached, Conte is formally between employers and available on a free transfer for clubs in any country.
Conte’s latest move continues an itinerant journey that has taken him from France to Israel, Romania, Bulgaria and Türkiye. A product of Paris Saint-Germain’s youth system, he progressed from PSG U19 to PSG B before stepping up to the first team. In 2013 he went on loan to Stade Reims, where he later signed permanently and reached his peak market value of €2.5m during his early twenties, underlining the high regard in which he was once held in Ligue 1.
After several seasons in France, Conte switched to Beitar Jerusalem in Israel, initially on loan and then permanently, spending his mid-twenties in the Israeli top flight. A career break followed, before he resumed professional football at CS Universitatea Craiova in Romania’s Liga 1. Subsequent moves to Hapoel Tel Aviv and then Botev Plovdiv in Bulgaria kept him at a solid competitive level, with his valuation fluctuating but remaining significant for a defender.
His transfer to Igdir FK brought him into Türkiye’s 1. Lig, where his experience across multiple European leagues made him a valuable asset at the back. By late 2025 his market value stabilised at €600k, reflecting both his pedigree and his status as a seasoned, physically imposing centre-back standing 1.87 m tall and operating primarily on his right foot.
For clubs seeking a free central defender with extensive top-flight and international league exposure, Conte’s availability represents a low-risk option. His background in Guinea and France gives him a dual fanbase, and his long spell in European football ensures he remains a known quantity for recruiters across several markets. Having already adapted to varied tactical systems in France’s Ligue 1, Israel’s top division, Romania’s Liga 1, Bulgaria’s First League and Türkiye’s 1. Lig, he offers versatility and familiarity with different styles of play.
With no transfer fee required and no contractual end date restricting negotiations, the next move will be crucial in determining whether Conte can re-establish himself near the level he once occupied at Reims and Beitar Jerusalem. Wherever he signs next, the decision will likely shape the final phase of his career and his enduring reputation as a well-travelled Guinean-French defender.
