Algerian goalkeeper Hatem Bencheikh El Fegoun has joined USM Khenchela on a free transfer from Olympique Akbou in a deal that keeps him in Ligue 1 and strengthens the club’s options in goal. The 26-year-old moves after his contract with Akbou ended, allowing Khenchela to secure an experienced domestic shot-stopper without paying a fee.
Bencheikh El Fegoun, who was born in Constantine and stands at 1.80m, arrives at his new club with a market value of €225,000. A right-footed goalkeeper, he is entering what is typically considered a key stage of a keeper’s career, offering Khenchela a player with several seasons of first-team football behind him in the Algerian system.
The move marks the latest step in a career spent entirely in Algerian football. Bencheikh El Fegoun joined Olympique Akbou in 2024 from CA Batna, also on a free transfer, and later spent part of the 2025-26 campaign on loan at ES Setif before returning to Akbou at the end of that spell. Before that, he had spells with AS Khroub and CA Batna after leaving CS Constantine, where he graduated from the club’s U21 side into the senior set-up.
USM Khenchela have now completed the signing of Bencheikh El Fegoun as a free agent, adding the Algerian goalkeeper to their Ligue 1 squad from Olympique Akbou.
