Billal Brahimi leaves Santos and becomes free agent after Brazil spell ends

Algeria winger Billal Brahimi has left Santos FC and is now a free agent after his contract with the Brazilian club came to an end on 6 July 2026.

The 26-year-old right winger, who is left-footed and stands at 1.83m, departs Santos with a current market value of 1m. His exit follows a short spell back at the Vila Belmiro side after returning from a loan in Portugal with CF Estrela Amadora at the end of June.

Brahimi had joined Santos in September 2025, having previously been without a club following his departure from OGC Nice earlier that month. Within months of arriving in Brazil, he moved to Estrela Amadora on loan in February 2026, before coming back to Santos when that deal concluded.

Born in Paris and eligible for both Algeria and France, Brahimi has built a career across several European leagues and Brazil, predominantly as an attacking wide player on the right flank. His market value peaked at 7m during his time with Nice in 2023 before gradually declining through subsequent loans in France and Belgium and then his move to South America.

Before his stint at Santos and Estrela Amadora, Brahimi was on the books at Nice from January 2022, following a transfer from Angers SCO. While under contract with Nice he had loan spells at Stade Brestois 29 in Ligue 1 and Sint-Truidense VV in Belgium, adding further top-flight experience to his profile.

Earlier in his career, he played for Reims and Le Mans in France after leaving Middlesbroughs youth set-up, having also spent time in the academies of Leixoes in Portugal and clubs in the Paris region.

Brahimi now departs Santos and enters the 202627 season unattached after his latest move out of the Brazilian Serie A.