Anis Hadj Moussa converts aborted Al‑Ittihad deal into Eredivisie brilliance

Anis Hadj Moussa endured the sting of a collapsed move to Al‑Ittihad, only to emerge as September’s Eredivisie player of the month. The winger turned a period that saw him omitted from Feyenoord’s squad against NEC Nijmegen into a run of five goals in six league games, proving resilience can rewrite a narrative.

Failed Al‑Ittihad move

The transfer to Saudi side Al‑Ittihad fell through after weeks of negotiation, leaving the Algerian international in limbo. The episode cost him a place in the matchday squad for Feyenoord’s clash with NEC Nijmegen, a decision the club confirmed at the time.

Moussa later clarified the situation, saying he had spoken openly to the entire group at the training centre. “I addressed everyone to apologise for what happened,” he told reporters, adding that normality returned once the conversation was over.

Eredivisie resurgence

Just weeks after the disappointment, Moussa collected the Eredivisie player of the month award for September, having netted four goals in only two appearances. The Algerian winger’s strike‑rate earned him the trophy for the second time in his career.

His scoring burst included back‑to‑back doubles against PEC Zwolle and Utrecht, each match yielding two goals from four shots on target. The efficiency highlighted his clinical edge during the early part of the season.

Overall, Moussa has featured in six Eredivisie fixtures, contributing five goals and one decisive pass in 524 minutes of play. The statistics underline his impact despite the early turbulence surrounding his aborted transfer.

Reflecting on the mental toll, Moussa said, “Dans la tête, ça fait toujours mal, ça fait mal pour un joueur. But once it passes, it’s over and I give 100 %.” His words illustrate how the winger has turned a painful episode into on‑field success.