Monsef Bakrar began his career from the amateur pitches in the city of Salah Bey, before moving between several stations inside and outside Algeria in search of proving himself in the world of football.
Monsef Bakrar
Club: Al Ahly
Al Ahly announced today, Tuesday, the official signing of Monsef Bakrar for a period of 3 years, coming from Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb.
Bakrar played for Mouloudia d’El Eulma and USM Sétif, then moved to the Croatian league via Istra, before trying his luck in the American league with New York City, and then returning to Dinamo Zagreb, where he posted his best numbers to date.
After this journey, Bakrar has become a new player in Al Ahly’s ranks, in a move that represents a new challenge for the Algerian striker, who seeks to continue his development and prove his ability to add value with the Reds.
Filgoal.com reviews in the following report the story of Monsef Bakrar, Al Ahly’s new star, in a deal through which the Reds hope to optimally bolster their attack.
Monsef Bakrar was born in 2001 in the city of Salah Bey. He grew up in a sporting family, where all his brothers were involved in football before he joined Amal Chabab Salah Bey, the club where he spent seven full years.
Under the guidance of his first coach, Mohamed Chouder, Bakrar took his first steps in the world of the beautiful game, with the coach helping to discover his talent.
Although many of his teammates in Salah Bey possessed great technical abilities, the difference for Bakrar lay in commitment and sacrifice; he would travel long distances to attend training sessions and endure the hardships of commuting and studying in order to develop himself.
Turning PointIn 2017, Monsef Bakrar moved to Mouloudia d’El Eulma after catching the eye during one of the matches.
The experience was not easy at the beginning; the young player faced many challenges, most notably not having a place to stay, in addition to trying to balance studies with football demands, as well as his family’s constant concern for him.
The management of Mouloudia d’El Eulma played an important role in providing him with suitable conditions and helped him focus entirely on football.
Bakrar shone with Mouloudia d’El Eulma in just one season, but it did not go unnoticed, especially after scoring a goal against USM Sétif, which opened the door for him to move to the club he had dreamed of wearing the jersey of since childhood.
After one season, Bakrar moved to USM Sétif at the age of 18. He started with the youth team before getting a chance with the reserve side. The player excelled despite some difficulties related to facilities and training conditions.
There he found a group of players who later became prominent names, such as Mohamed Amine Amoura of the Algerian national team, Ahmed Kendouci, former Al Ahly player, and Abdelrahim Daghboum, current player of Al Masry, in a generation described as one of the best to emerge from the club.
Under the guidance of coach Sofiane Douar, Bakrar’s level developed significantly after receiving trust and support.
I will leave for the rival
Despite his strong start with USM Sétif, Bakrar’s career faced a major crisis when he decided to move to MC Alger along with a number of his teammates.
The reason for the departure was linked to the lack of a clear professional contract with USM Sétif, which made him feel unappreciated, especially after receiving greater interest from MC Alger.
The player did move to MC Alger, but the deal was not completed, leaving him without official appearances for several months.
During that period, Bakrar did not give up; he continued training daily and played friendly matches regularly to maintain his physical and technical readiness, supported by the technical staff at MC Alger, even though he was not receiving any salary.
After praying for guidance (Istikhara), as he said, he decided to return to USM Sétif. That step became the real turning point in his career, as coach Sofiane Douar gave him trust again. He came on against US Biskra and scored two goals in his first appearance, ending the pressure that accompanied his return.
Bakrar said: “I thank the USM Sétif fans because they forgave me and opened a new page with me. It is true that they were angry with me on social media, but in the end most of them have kind hearts, and that was the greatest motivation for me to return strongly and regain my level.”
“I was lucky to play with a large group of experienced players such as Abdelmoumen Jabou, Amir Karaoui, Houssam Eddine Ghacha, Akram Djahnit, and Saadi Radouani. They always encouraged me and gave me advice on and off the pitch, and helped me a lot in my journey, so I will always be grateful to them.”
USM Sétif will always remain in my heart. I follow its news and matches constantly, and I hope it returns to competing for titles.” — Monsef Bakrar.
Monsef Bakrar played 51 matches for USM Sétif, scoring 10 goals and providing 3 assists.
Between Europe and AmericaThe gateway to playing abroad came when Monsef participated with the Algerian U23 national team in a friendly tournament in the French city of Marseille. He succeeded in catching the attention of scouts from Croatian club Istra after an impressive performance and scoring a goal, leading to his transfer to the club in the summer of 2022.
Bakrar quickly established himself with his new club, scoring in his first four matches, with his first goal coming against Dinamo Zagreb. He finished his first season with 8 goals and 3 assists, contributing to the club achieving its best finish in history by placing fifth in the Croatian league.
This performance prompted Dinamo Zagreb to enter serious negotiations to sign him. The deal reached its final stages, and he even had a photo session in the club’s jersey, but negotiations collapsed at the last moment due to the two clubs failing to agree on the financial compensation, so the deal fell through and he returned to Istra.
After the failed move to Dinamo Zagreb, Bakrar received an offer in the summer of 2023 from New York City for 2 million euros, moving to Major League Soccer within the City Football Group, which gives players the opportunity to transfer between the group’s clubs around the world.
Sporting director David Lee said about the deal: “Monsef is a talented and dynamic striker who had a great first season in Europe, and we are excited about the impact he will have on our squad, as well as enhancing our quality and depth as we enter the final stages of the season and approach the playoffs.”
“Thanks to Monsef’s experience at club level and with the Algerian youth national team, along with his experience in Croatia, we believe his move to Major League Soccer will be an excellent step in his career. Although Monsef is still 22 years old, his best years are yet to come, and we look forward to supporting and continuing to develop him.”
“It’s your night”Bakrar joined the American club without a full pre-season and started in his first 10 matches, scoring 3 goals. However, his second season was more difficult; he played 28 league matches, scoring only 4 goals, and faced challenges in maintaining his starting spot.
The Algerian striker experienced a period of inconsistency in his second season, between moments of brilliance and times when he was searching for the confidence that any striker wearing the number 9 jersey needs.
However, his coach Nick Cushing strongly supported the player and always saw beyond the numbers, affirming that Bakrar possesses the ability to press continuously, move intelligently, and create space for his teammates.
On the night of the Hudson River Derby against New York Red Bulls, the score was 1-1. When Bakrar came on, the coach’s message to him was simple: “It’s your night.”
The Algerian striker entered the pitch and after only 6 minutes scored the goal, and Bekkar says about the moment of the goal: "I saw the ball enter the net and started running like crazy, I was very happy, I can't describe the feeling, it was important to score this goal and help my team win the derby".
The celebration was not just joy over a goal, but a release of all the pressures the player had experienced since the beginning of the season with the team, which is why he headed straight to his coach Cushing.
Cushing affirmed his great confidence in his player, saying: "I believe Monsef will score in every match, I am very happy for him because he deserved this goal, he has worked hard to be the player who adds to New York everything we need to be a successful team, he scored a goal tonight, but we want him to continue".
Bekkar played 70 matches with his American club, scoring 10 goals and providing no assists, before returning to the club - Dinamo Zagreb - which had previously tried to sign him for one million euros in the summer of 2025.
Balkan JewelBekkar returned to the Balkan Jewel once again, shining with Dinamo Zagreb in his first and last season, and during the 42 matches he played in all competitions, the Algerian striker scored 18 goals and provided 7 assists, contributing to the team's crowning with the Croatian league and cup double.
During the past season with Dinamo Zagreb in the Croatian league, Bekkar participated in 29 matches, starting 17 of them, with a total of 1,511 minutes played, equivalent to 16.8 full matches.
The Algerian striker managed to score 10 goals in the league, in addition to providing 4 assists for his teammates, scoring a goal approximately every 151 minutes in the Croatian league, with his attacking contribution rate reaching 0.83 goals or assists per 90 minutes, a figure that placed him among the best players in the competition, as he ranked third in goals and contributions per 90 minutes.
The Algerian striker showed great effectiveness in front of goal, as he took 52 shots in the league during the season, 19 of which were on target, with a shots-on-target percentage reaching 36.5%.
His shot rate also reached 3.10 shots per match per 90 minutes, scoring a goal from approximately every 5.2 shots, while his shot-to-goal conversion rate reached 19%, a rate that reflects his ability to capitalize on opportunities.
Overall, his scoring rate in the American league reached 0.30 goals per 90 minutes, compared to 0.60 goals per 90 minutes during his season with Dinamo Zagreb, reflecting the significant development in his scoring level after returning to Croatia.
Return to the Dark ContinentAl Ahli Club announced today, Tuesday, the official signing of Monsef Bekkar for three years from Croatian Dinamo Zagreb for 3 million euros, according to reports.
Monsef Bekkar shone with Setif before turning professional in Croatia, and also had an experience in the American league, before returning to the Balkans to deliver his best season with Dinamo Zagreb, proving he is a striker capable of making a difference.
But the biggest challenge begins now, wearing the Al Ahli shirt where previous numbers are not enough, and the Algerian striker will have to prove that his move from Dinamo Zagreb to the African champion was not just a stop in his career, but a step toward writing a bigger chapter in his history.
Will he be the new Wissam Abu Ali, or will he pass unnoticed as the Angolan Ylson Camões did.. This is what Monsef Bekkar will answer himself.
