Lens sign 'young Verratti' Algerian Yacine Titraoui

Yacine Titraoui will arrive at Lens from Charleroi, where he has impressed over the past two seasons. According to L'Équipe, the deal is worth €8 million and the 23-year-old Algerian international will wear number 8, vacated by Mamadou Sangaré following his move to Brentford.

The 1.70-meter midfielder arrives with the nickname of "Algerian Verratti" thanks to his game vision, technical quality and composure under pressure. Blessed with high work rate and tactical intelligence, Titraoui also carries an attacking threat: in his final Charleroi season he posted 5 goals and 3 assists in 42 matches.

Honed at Paradou AC academy, a prestigious Algerian talent factory that produced stars like Ramy Bensebaïni, Boudaoui and Atal, he featured at the Qatar World Cup with his national team, though without minutes. His rise nearly accelerated earlier: in August 2023 he passed a Dinamo Zagreb medical, but the deal collapsed over mysterious "extra-sporting" reasons that left the player bewildered.