Villarreal keep watch on Hicham Boudaoui as Nice midfielder enters key stage

Villarreal are monitoring OGC Nice midfielder Hicham Boudaoui, who could be at the centre of an active summer transfer window despite having two years remaining on his contract with the French club.

The Algeria international joined OGC Nice in 2019 and has gradually become an established figure on the Cote d’Azur. His current agreement with Les Aiglons runs until June 2027, but his performances have attracted interest from clubs elsewhere in Europe.

According to Foot Mercato, Villarreal have recently made enquiries about Boudaoui’s situation. The Spanish club are understood to appreciate the 26-year-old’s technical qualities and are considering whether he could become a target in the coming weeks.

Boudaoui, who was born in Bechar, has developed into a regular member of the OGC Nice first-team squad since arriving at the club. He has made 207 appearances in all competitions for the French side and has scored 14 goals during that time.

His progress at club level has also helped him establish a lasting place in the Algeria national team. Boudaoui has won 37 international caps, further enhancing his profile as interest in his future begins to grow.

The midfielder remains tied to OGC Nice until 2027, meaning any potential move would depend on Villarreal deciding to make a formal approach and on the two clubs reaching an agreement. Transfermarkt currently values Boudaoui at about 12m euros.

For Villarreal, he could represent an appealing option as the club assess the possibility of strengthening their midfield. However, there has been no indication that the Spanish side have yet moved beyond their initial interest, and it remains to be seen whether that enquiry will develop into an offer.

Boudaoui’s annual salary at OGC Nice is reported to be 290,000 euros, equivalent to 188,500,000 FCFA.

The immediate focus for OGC Nice will be their opening match of the French championship against Lorient. That fixture is scheduled to take place shortly, with Boudaoui’s position at the club likely to remain a point of interest while Villarreal continue to assess his availability.

The betting company 1xBet has listed odds of 2.10 for an OGC Nice victory in the match. A draw is priced at 3.30, while Lorient are listed at 3.00 to win.