Esperance de Tunis have formally ended negotiations over a new contract for Youcef Belaili, bringing the Algerian international’s latest spell at the club to a close after talks over a two-year extension broke down.
The Tunisian champions announced they had “definitively” closed discussions with the 34-year-old, saying every stage of the negotiation process had been completed without a final agreement being reached.
Esperance said they had been keen to retain Belaili, seen internally as a key member of the squad, and believed they were close to a deal earlier in the summer.
On 5 June 2026, the club publicly revealed what it described as an agreement in principle with the winger over a two-season extension, underlining its intention to secure continuity in its sporting project.
Club says obligations were met
In a statement, the Esperance hierarchy insisted they had honoured all of their commitments to Belaili during the talks.
They said they had tabled a contract offer that would have maintained his existing salary, settled all outstanding payments owed to the player and provided the documentation required to support him in his case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Despite that, the club claims Belaili and his representative failed to attend the final scheduled meeting intended to conclude the agreement, including the appointment set for 23 July 2026.
With no face-to-face conclusion to the negotiations and no signed contract, Esperance opted to draw a line under the matter.
Esperance move on as Belaili future opens up
The Tunis club has now turned its focus to identifying new signings ahead of the coming season, with Belaili no longer in their plans.
In confirming the end of talks, Esperance also publicly wished the Algerian winger well for the rest of his career.
Belaili, who is 34, currently has an estimated market value of €1.2m, according to figures listed on Transfermarkt.
His departure brings an official end to his latest chapter with Esperance de Tunis, after relations between the two parties had appeared to be heading towards a renewed commitment only weeks earlier.
