🔥📢 Espérance Sportive de Tunis have officially announced the permanent closure of negotiations to renew the contract of Algerian star Youssef Belaïli after all discussions ended without a final agreement to keep the player at the club for next season. ⚽🇹🇳
The Tunisian giants confirmed that the decision came after exhausting every stage of negotiations and all agreed deadlines with the player and his representative, bringing one of the club’s biggest summer transfer stories to an official end.
🤝 Preliminary Agreement Failed to Materialize
Espérance stated that on June 5, 2026, the club had announced a preliminary agreement with Youssef Belaïli to extend his contract for two additional seasons as part of its plan to preserve the team's core players.
🟡🔴 The club emphasized that it remained committed to that agreement throughout the negotiations because of Belaïli’s technical importance and the desire to maintain squad stability ahead of the new season.
💰 Club Fulfilled All Commitments
According to the official statement, Espérance fulfilled all of its financial, administrative, legal, and ethical obligations toward the player.
💵 The club also confirmed that it offered Belaïli what it described as a respectful financial package, keeping his previous salary unchanged while paying all outstanding dues, demonstrating its determination to retain him.
Espérance further revealed that it provided the player with all documents and information needed to support his case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding the FIFA sanction imposed on him.
🩺 Player Missed Signing Deadlines
The club explained that several appointments were arranged for Belaïli to undergo medical examinations and complete the signing process.
📅 The first appointment was scheduled for July 21, 2026, but the player failed to attend.
A final deadline was then set for July 23, 2026, to complete the medical tests and sign a two-year extension, but neither Belaïli nor his agent attended, ending all hopes of renewing the contract.
🚪 Renewal File Closed, Search for Replacement Begins
Following these developments, Espérance officially announced the permanent closure of Belaïli’s renewal file while wishing the Algerian international success in the next chapter of his career.
🏆 The club stressed that Espérance’s interests, institutional credibility, and respect for its commitments will always come first, confirming that it has already started evaluating alternative options in the transfer market in coordination with the technical staff to strengthen the squad for the upcoming season.
