Younes Houat has completed a move from French side Melun FC to Lithuanian outfit FK Jonava on a free transfer, signing a contract that starts on 2026-03-10 and runs until 2027-06-30. The 24-year-old attacking midfielder, who can also operate as a left winger, joins the I Lyga club after a short spell back in France and becomes the latest French-born player to continue his career abroad.
The deal sees Houat swap the French lower tiers for Lithuania’s second division, with Jonava securing his services without paying a fee. According to the data provided, no current market value is listed for the player at the time of the move, underlining the low-risk nature of the transfer from Jonava’s perspective. Houat had only returned to French football with Melun Football Club in late 2025, but his stay has now ended as he embarks on a new chapter in the Baltic region.
Born in Bourg-la-Reine and standing 1.75m tall, Houat holds both French and Algerian nationality. His career has already taken him through several countries and competitions. After time in France with SC Malesherbes and later Squadra Valincu Alta-Rocca Rizzanese, he moved to Spain with UD San Pedro, then to Senegal with AS Pikine, before heading to Slovenia to join NK Dekani. From Dekani he became a free agent, then signed for Melun FC, and now has secured a contract with Jonava.
That path means Houat arrives in Lithuania with experience of multiple football cultures and styles, despite operating mostly outside the major European top flights. His most recent recorded market valuation came during his stint at NK Dekani, when he was valued at €25,000 in mid-2025, before dropping to zero while without a club later that year. Those fluctuations reflect a career on the margins of the professional game, but also one in which he has consistently found new opportunities across different leagues.
At Jonava, Houat is expected to add attacking versatility, being listed primarily as an attacking midfielder and left winger, and preferring his right foot. His ability to operate between the lines and from wide areas could be valuable in the I Lyga, where Jonava will look to strengthen their promotion prospects and attacking options. The move also places him firmly in the shop window of a new market, giving him a fresh platform to re-establish or increase his value after a period without a defined market price.
For Houat himself, the transfer continues a well-established pattern of playing abroad rather than settling in his country of birth. After earlier experiences in Spain, Senegal and Slovenia, Lithuania now becomes the latest stop in a journey that underlines his willingness to adapt and relocate to keep his professional career moving. For Jonava, securing a player with dual France–Algeria nationality and cross-border experience on a free transfer offers potential upside with limited financial risk, and sets up an intriguing next phase in Houat’s career as he looks to make his mark in the I Lyga.
