Mehdi Boudjemaa
Mehdi Boudjemaa | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 7, 1998 Pontoise, Île-de-France, France |
| Occupation | Professional footballer |
| Years active | 2018– |
| Known for | Central midfielder for JS Kabylie |
Mehdi Boudjemaa (; Tamazight: ⵎⴻⵀⴷⵉ ⴱⵓⵊⴻⵎⴰ; born 7 April 1998) is a professional footballer from Algeria who operates primarily as a central midfielder and currently represents JS Kabylie.
Guingamp
Originating from Pontoise, Île-de-France, with family roots in Tizi Ouzou, Kabylia, Boudjemaa grew up in Beauvais, Oise. His early football development began at AS Beauvais Oise, followed by a year at RC Strasbourg Alsace when he was 15. He then returned to Beauvais before spending a season with Olympique Saint-Quentin, where his performances attracted the attention of EA Guingamp.
At Guingamp, Boudjemaa featured for the reserve squad competing in the fifth-tier Championnat National 3. After turning down an offer from Stade Brestois 29, he was included in the first team squad for a Ligue 1 fixture against Stade Malherbe Caen on 20 October 2018, although he did not take to the field. He secured his first professional contract on 19 February 2019, committing for two and a half years. His professional debut came on 9 August 2019 as a substitute during a 1–0 victory over Orléans in Ligue 2.
On 9 January 2020, Boudjemaa was loaned out to US Quevilly-Rouen Métropole, competing in the third-tier Championnat National, where he made five appearances before the campaign was suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Subsequently, on 5 June 2020, he moved on loan to another National side, Stade Lavallois.
Hatayspor
Boudjemaa took his career international by signing with Turkish Süper Lig club Hatayspor on 8 July 2021. During a goalless derby against rivals Adana Demirspor on 4 April, he received two yellow cards late in the match, resulting in his dismissal.
He survived the devastating 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake on 6 January 2023, which tragically claimed the lives of Hatayspor player Christian Atsu and sporting director Taner Savut. Following this catastrophe, Hatayspor withdrew from the remainder of the 2022–23 Süper Lig season. Shortly after, Boudjemaa secured a loan move to Hungarian champions Ferencvárosi TC with an option to buy. He played a role in their capture of the 2022–23 Nemzeti Bajnokság I title.
JS Kabylie
On 17 January 2025, Boudjemaa committed to a contract with JS Kabylie that extends through the conclusion of the 2026–27 campaign.
International career
Although born in France, Boudjemaa holds dual nationality with France and Algeria. In 2017, he publicly showed interest in representing Algeria at international level. In April 2025, he received a call-up from coach Madjid Bougherra for an important two-legged tie against Gambia as part of the second round qualification for the 2024 CHAN, playing with the Algeria A' squad. Later that year in July, Bougherra selected him again to participate with Algeria A' at the tournament.
Honours
Ferencváros
- Nemzeti Bajnokság I: 2022–23