The question of player wages has been one of the most talked-about topics in Algerian football in recent days. It was sparked by a report from journalist Samir Amari ranking the clubs with the highest annual wage bills for the new season. CR Belouizdad came first, followed by USM Alger, JS Kabylie and MC Alger.

The list divided opinion across the media and the football community. To bring a professional perspective to the debate, Maghreb Foot, one of the leading football news platforms in North Africa, turned to Abdou Younes, a FIFA-licensed players' agent and the founder of Younes Abdou Football Agency. Here are the key points from his analysis.

Abdou YounesFIFA-licensed agent, speaking to the press

Why wage bills are rising

According to Abdou Younes, two main factors explain the increase.

"The first reason is the demand of supporters of Algerian clubs, who want top-level players. This pushes up the market value of players and of their agents. The second reason is that the transfer market is governed by the law of supply and demand."

Abdou Younes, to Maghreb Foot

He explained that the strongest demand comes from the eight clubs owned by national companies, and that for top-quality players demand far exceeds supply.

A shortage of top talent

Abdou Younes also pointed to a lack of quality players ready to step up to the highest level. His agency's scouting network gives him a clear view of the situation.

"In the lower divisions, our agency has more than four scouts working across the country, and we see a real scarcity of players who are ready to make the jump to the top level."

Abdou Younes, to Maghreb Foot

Competitive at home, but not in Africa

Abdou Younes believes the answer depends on the level of comparison.

"Looked at locally, the annual wage bills are fairly high. But if we aim to compete at continental level, these salaries are very low compared with Al Ahly, Espérance de Tunis and Mamelodi Sundowns."

Abdou Younes, to Maghreb Foot

He backed this up with market values from the continent's biggest clubs, set against the most valuable players in the Algerian league.

What it means for the future

Abdou Younes closed with a clear warning and a call for long-term thinking.

"If salaries stay low in the Algerian league, the best players will leave to find bigger financial opportunities. The selling club benefits financially, but from a sporting point of view it is not possible to build a team capable of winning the CAF Champions League this way. So the question is: what do we want? We need a medium- and long-term strategy."

Abdou Younes, to Maghreb Foot

The key points

• Supporter expectations and the law of supply and demand are driving wage bills up.
• Demand is strongest among the eight clubs owned by national companies, while quality players are scarce.
• Salaries are high by local standards but low compared with Al Ahly, Espérance de Tunis and Mamelodi Sundowns.
• Without a medium- and long-term strategy, the best players will keep leaving for bigger financial opportunities.

About Abdou Younes

Abdou Younes is a former professional footballer and the founder of Younes Abdou Football Agency (MMSAY), an international FIFA-licensed agency based in Algeria. The agency offers player management, scouting and recruitment, and marketing and branding, with connections across Africa, Europe and emerging markets.

Read the full feature on Maghreb Foot, where this analysis was originally published on September 26, 2026.

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Source: Maghreb Foot. Quotes translated from Arabic.