Yassine Benzia

Yassine Benzia (Arabic: ياسين بنزية‎; born 8 September 1994) is a professional footballer who plays for Ligue 2 club Dijon and the Algeria national team. He mainly plays as an attacking or a central midfielder but can also play as a winger or striker.

He began his professional career at Olympique Lyonnais, where he played 53 total games and scored 6 goals, winning the 2012 Trophee des Champions. In August 2015, he was signed by Lille.

Benzia was a France youth international, having represented his nation at under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-21 level. He played with the under-17 team at the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup. In March 2016, FIFA approved his request to change his international allegiance to Algeria.

Club Career

Lyon

Following the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup Benzia signed his first professional contract with Lyon, agreeing to a three-year deal on 27 October 2011. He was subsequently promoted to the senior team by manager Remi Garde and assigned the number 25 shirt. Benzia made his professional debut on 20 May 2012 in the last game of the league season at home to Nice, appearing as a substitute for Jimmy Briand for the final minutes of the 4–3 loss.

Benzia came on as a 66th-minute substitute for Bafetimbi Gomis in the 2012 Trophee des Champions against Montpellier at New Jersey's Red Bull Arena on 28 July, and scored in Lyon's penalty shootout victory after a 2–2 draw. On 22 November, he scored his first professional goal to open a 1–1 draw at Sparta Prague in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. He scored again in the competition's next game, a 2–0 win at the Stade de Gerland against Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona, but did not find the net again for the rest of the season.

On 16 August 2013, Benzia scored his first Ligue 1 goal, opening a 3–1 win at Sochaux on the first day of the season and also assisting Alexandre Lacazette and Yoann Gourcuff for the other two goals. He added his only other goal of the season on 8 December in a win by the

This page also has a version in other languages :  Яссин Бензья (russian)