Maïdine Douane

Douane grew up in Thionville, working through a string of local youth sides before Metz picked him up in 2016, playing 21 matches for Metz B between 2020 and 2024. First-team football at Metz was scarce: he made just two Ligue 2 appearances, debuting against Bordeaux in April 2023.

Those loans, both at Belgian side RFC Seraing, told two different stories. The first, in 2022, was brief and produced little. The second, spanning 2023 and 2024, gave him a proper run in the side and his first senior goals.

Rather than derailing him, the episode preceded a fresh start. Douane left Metz for good in the summer of 2024, joining Clermont Foot as a free agent on an initial two-year deal that was later extended to run to 2028 — a sign of the trust the club placed in him despite the turbulence of his final months in Belgium. He has since become a regular contributor in Clermont's forward line, passing 40 appearances and finding the net several times across all competitions.

Internationally, Douane's dual French-Algerian background led him to a single appearance for Algeria's under-23 side in 2022. He has yet to add a major trophy to his career, though his form was recognised outside conventional honours with an Honourable Mention in EA Sports FC 26's Team of the Year.