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The Premier League's Top Algerian Talents: Ait-Nouri Set To Join The List?
Blogs

The Premier League's Top Algerian Talents: Ait-Nouri Set To Join The List?

The Premier League's Top Algerian Talents: Ait-Nouri Set To Join The List?

The Premier League has long been known as an international paradise. At the start of the 2024/25 season, the English top flight fielded representatives from 54 different nations, four more than any of the other top five leagues in Europe.

As a result, the Premier League has seen some of the world’s greatest stars - mention any country, and England’s 20 best sides will likely be able to boast one of that nation's best ever talents.

Algeria is one of countless countries that has been a regular supplier of star talent to England's top flight. The North African country has produced league winners, “street’s won’t forget” ballers, and forgotten heroes, worshipped while they were here.

The hot topic of the transfer window so far has been the speculation surrounding current Algerian international Rayan Ait-Nouri’s potential big money move to a rebuilding Manchester City. With the left-back close to joining the Cityzens for a reported fee of around £40 million, it provides the perfect opportunity to flick through history, and discuss some of the Premier League’s most iconic Algerian players.

Riyad Mahrez - Leicester City and Man City (2014-2023)

We start with arguably the best player in the nation's history, Riyad Mahrez. Mahrez came to England from French side Le Havre, and despite only having six months to settle at Leicester City, had a significant hand in helping the club achieve promotion to the Premier League.

However, it seemed the Premier League was too much for him at first. In his first full season, Mahrez managed just four goals and three assists, forcing fans to consider whether he was good enough for what at the time was a side battling relegation. However, with survival secured at the end of the 2014/15 season, Mahrez clearly took a look at himself, and didn’t like what he saw.

So he went away, and trained. And trained. And trained some more. It was a radical, intense approach, but the numbers the next season proved it was more than worth it. He netted 18 times and set up 11 more, forming a devastating attacking partnership with Jamie Vardy as Leicester stunned the football world to win the Premier League.

Though he stayed at Leicester for another two seasons after this, he and his side failed to win any more silverware, and with trophies on his mind, Mahrez moved to Man City for what was then a record fee of £60 million, and instantly made an impact. Across five seasons with Pep Guardiola’s side, Mahrez picked up four Premier League titles, two FA Cup’s, three League Cups, and of course the coveted Champions League trophy.

The silky skilled winger was a nightmare for Premier League defenses, combining his electric pace and strong running with magical feet and outrageous skill, and his stats in the top flight speak for themselves. In 284 Premier League games, Mahrez netted 82 times, and set up a further 61, respectable stats no matter where you are from.

As a result, Mahrez will go down as one of the best wingers in Premier League history, with his unlikely league title with Leicester the pick of his achievements. Without him, the foxes wouldn’t have even come close.

Said Benrahma - West Ham United (2020-2024)

Although he has a fraction of the reputation Riyah Mahrez can boast, Said Benrahma was a Premier League staple across his four seasons with West Ham, notching important goals, and frequently wowing fans with his slick feet and clinical finishing.

An attacking midfielder by trade, Benrahma moved from then Championship side Brentford to West Ham in the summer of 2020, with the Hammers beating high-profile names to the Algerian’s signature, a list which included Chelsea.

Although it took him a while to get off the ground (he managed just one goal in his first season), Benrahma started to find his feet in his second campaign in East London, chipping in with 11 goals and six assists as his side finished seventh in the league, while also reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League.

His third season would be his best yet, both in terms of goal scoring (12 in all competitions) and in silverware, as the Hammer’s took advantage of playing in the new third tier of European football, winning the Conference League, and becoming only the second ever champion.

Benrahma was particularly crucial in Europe, netting four times, including in the final against Fiorentina, and only missed out on a place in the competitions team of the season due to the form of fellow attackers Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen, the latter of which scored the winner in the final.

His final season saw his form dip, and he failed to score in any of his last 22 games for the club. This led to a January transfer to French side Lyon, where Benrahma is a regular starter. While he may not have boasted the value or elite skill of compatriot Mahrez, Benrahma was a classy player, with an eye for a terrific pass, and an eye for a screamer too. Safe to say, the Hammers faithful won’t forget his contributions which helped them claim their first European trophy.

Ali Benarbia - Manchester City (2002-2003)

Here is a throwback for Manchester City fans (you love your Algerians huh?) - but we have to go back in time all the way to 2001, when Man City weren’t even in the top flight.

Having been relegated the previous season, City needed to bolster their squad for the battle for promotion, and saw Paris Saint-Germain’s Ali Benarbia as the perfect low budget option. Signed on a free transfer, it was effectively a free hit for City. If he impressed then he was superb value for money - if he flopped, well, he didn’t cost anything anyway.

Fortunately for all parties, Benarbia thrived in the Championship, netting eight times and earning admirers as City vaulted themselves back into the Premier League.

His performances in his debut season earned him the nickname “the Algerian Magician” - and it was more than deserved. Benarbia loved to unlock defenses with outrageous passes, and his ability to wriggle out of tight spots and small spaces was rivalled by few others in the division.

Although his influence waned in the Premier League, with the physicality of English defenders rendering him helpless on occasion, Benarbia still showed flashes of brilliance, and remained a hugely popular figure at Man City until the end of the season, when he announced his retirement.

In all, Benarbia netted 11 times for Man City in 71 games, and notched many more assists (although unfortunately, these weren’t recorded at the time). Although his goal tally may warrant little attention, those who watched him will know he was a superb talent, and arguably arrived in the Premier League a few years too late.

Rayan Ait-Nouri - Wolves and Man City? (2020-Present)

And now to the man of the moment - with rumours swirling around him, Ait-Nouri can consider himself lucky that all sides are currently in the off-season. If the current transfer speculation was being thrown around during the height of the campaign, it would take a monumental effort to prevent it from affecting his performance.

A left-back with an eye for joining attacks, Ait-Nouri first graced a Premier League pitch in 2020, after Wolverhampton Wanderers had settled on a loan move from Angers. While his numbers were average by any standards, Wolves had seen enough potential in the then 18-year-old to sign him permanently for just under £10 million.

What a deal this proved to be - Ait-Nouri has turned into one of the league’s best full backs, and has consistently been the best player on the pitch for Wolves in a time when they have shifted from a solid mid-table side to dancing dangerously above the relegation zone.

This season saw Ait-Nouri leap to the next level in his development; he scored five goals and assisted seven more, both personal best totals at the club, and his improvement did not go unnoticed, with both Liverpool and Man City keeping a close eye on the Algerian.

Thankfully, another talented Premier League left-back emerged in the form of Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, an option that caught Liverpool’s attention, allowing Man City to move for the Wolves man unchallenged.

While the deal may not be done yet, Man City are getting an absolute bargain if they sign him for less than £40 million. Ait-Nouri has the potential to become one of the world’s best left backs in Pep Guardiola’s system, and could go on to become an Algerian Premier League great.

He will never rival Mahrez in terms of goal output, but if his importance at Wolves carries over to this Man City team, he will be recognised as one of the most talented Algerians to ever play in England’s top flight.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
Harry Pascoe

Lead Writer

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