The summer 2026 transfer window has offered little evidence of progress for Tunisian footballers in Europe, with no player joining a major club or securing a move to one of the continent’s top five leagues.
Although several promising players have found new clubs, none of the deals has emerged as a significant European transfer. The disappointing market follows Tunisia’s poor showing at the 2026 World Cup, a performance former Tunisia international Sami Allagui believes affected the reputation of Tunisian players among European clubs.
Five moves nevertheless stand out.
Ben Ali leads the next generation
At 21, Omar Ben Ali left Club Sportif Sfaxien for Alanyaspor, signing a contract with the Turkish top-flight club until 2030. The transfer fee was 1.2 million euros and includes a clause relating to a future sale.
Ben Ali ended the 2025/26 season with 11 goals in the Tunisian league and now has an opportunity to develop in a more visible competition. He had also attracted interest from FC LNZ in recent months.
The move is viewed primarily as an investment in the forward’s potential rather than a major European breakthrough.
Omar Rekik’s transfer to Ludogorets is another notable move. The 24-year-old defender left NK Maribor for the Bulgarian club on 8 September in a deal believed to be worth around 300 000 euros.
Ludogorets regularly competes in European football, while the Bulgarian league will provide Rekik with a different environment from the one he experienced in Slovenia. Grasshopper Zurich had also been monitoring the Tunisia international.
Skhiri returns to familiar surroundings
Ellyes Skhiri’s move from Eintracht Frankfurt back to FC Cologne is arguably the most significant deal involving an established Tunisian player.
The 31-year-old midfielder spent three seasons at Eintracht Frankfurt and has returned to a club where he previously made 133 official appearances. He has signed until June 2028.
It is not a high-profile move in terms of prestige, but Skhiri knows the club, the city, the league and the wider environment. After a difficult period and a disappointing World Cup with Tunisia, the return could offer greater stability and regular playing time. Despite that, he had several options this summer.
Khalil Ayari, meanwhile, has joined USL Dunkerque from PSG on a season-long loan in Ligue 2. The 21-year-old had been followed by several clubs and will now have the chance to gain regular senior football after spending time with PSG’s youth teams.
For Ayari, the priority is to handle the demands of professional football, gain experience and develop greater maturity.
Ismael Gharbi has also moved on loan, joining Leganes in Spain’s second division for one season with an option to buy. The Tunisia international’s technical qualities – including his passing, creativity, ability to play between the lines and effectiveness in tight spaces – could suit Spanish football.
Leganes compete in Liga Hypermotion, giving Gharbi the chance to regain consistency and move closer to Spain’s top level.
A warning for Tunisian football
These transfers provide some encouragement, but they do not change the broader picture. No Tunisian player joined a major European club this summer, while the country’s most experienced internationals did not attract strong interest from the continent’s leading sides.
The 2026 World Cup should have served as a showcase. Instead, Tunisia’s performance appears to have increased doubts among recruiters.
The moves involving Ben Ali, Rekik, Skhiri, Ayari and Gharbi are useful opportunities, but none qualifies as a genuine top-level European transfer. The summer has lacked a clear leader, a major deal and evidence that a Tunisian player is taking a decisive step towards the elite.
The central question is now where the next generation of Tunisian players will be in three or four years.