Player Profile

Djebbour has endured a second tumultuous season at AEK Athens, having repeatedly fallen out with coach Dusan Bajević. He had trials at Celtic and Blackburn last September and October, and a move to Eintracht Frankfurt then fell through before he made his first league appearance of the season in January.

Djebbour’s previous year at AEK Athens was marred by a fight with Argentine team-mate Nacho Scocco, who needed hospital treatment after being head-butted in the face.

Djebbour’s lack of playing time in the first half of this season meant he was overlooked for the Africa Cup of Nations. He watched the 4-0 semi-final loss to Egypt at home, and said: “I was so angry that I almost broke my television. It’s the referee who demoralised our players from the very beginning.” Djebbour made his Algeria debut in August 2006 but had to wait another 19 months for his second cap.

Born in Grenoble in south-east France, Djebbour started his career at Auxerre before signing for Belgian side La Louviere aged 20. A year later he moved to Greece, playing for top-flight sides Ethnikos Asteras, Atromitos and Panionios, where he scored 14 goals in 24 league games in 2007/08.