Mohamed Belloumi to Arsenal? Hull winger tipped to leave

Arsenal’s interest in Hull City winger Mohamed Belloumi is a big deal, says former Algeria manager Rabah Saâdane, who now expects the 24-year-old to leave the Tigers soon.

Saâdane, who managed Algeria on three separate occasions, gave his verdict to Africa Foot after being told that Arsenal want to sign the left-footed attacker in January.

Belloumi was not even in the squad when Hull lost 1-0 at the Emirates on Saturday, with Martin Ødegaard scoring the only goal in the 72nd minute. Sergej Jakirović left him out, so Mikel Arteta’s side beat the club without having to deal with the player they have been watching.

What did Rabah Saâdane say about Mohamed Belloumi?

Asked whether Belloumi’s progress at Hull had surprised him, Saâdane said it had not. He said: “He’s a talented player. He’s left-footed with excellent individual technique. He has good vision. You can see he’s capable of scoring and creating goals. He’s still young, which means he can still improve.”

Pressed on whether a move away was now inevitable, he added: “It’s significant that a club like Arsenal is interested in him. I think [he] is attracting interest from top clubs, and that he will leave Hull soon.”

There was a word of caution too. Saâdane said: “But I’m a proponent of stability, and leaving mid-season is never easy, because you have to adapt, find your place. I’ve always believed it’s better to wait until the end of the season to leave and complete a full preseason with your new team.”

Would Belloumi say yes to the Gunners?

Reports suggest he would. Belloumi is said to be happy that the Gunners have shown interest and would not turn down an offer if one arrives. For now, the Algeria international wants to keep his focus on his development at Hull while he waits to see whether Arsenal push on.

That decision sits with Arsenal, who have to work out whether he is worth a strong move as early as the next window. They are not short of options out wide either, having also been linked with Leipzig’s Norway winger Antonio Nusa in recent days.

How has Belloumi done at Hull City?

Belloumi came through the youth system at MC Oran and spent a year in their first team before leaving for Farense in 2022. Two years later, Hull City brought him to England from the Portuguese side.

He was mostly used off the bench in his first two Championship seasons. Hull then won promotion to the top flight, and Saâdane pointed out that Belloumi played a key part in getting them there.

This season has been his best yet. He has played 703 minutes across 10 matches, with three goals and two assists, and his overall record for the Tigers stands at eight goals and eight assists in 45 appearances.

The injury record Arsenal will look at

The fitness history is the part that will need checking. Belloumi suffered a cruciate ligament injury in November 2024 that ended his 2024/25 season. Last season, a hamstring problem and a thigh muscle injury kept him out for a combined 121 days.

Jakirović has had plenty to say about the players he wants around him at Hull, and he recently named the Croatian forwards he still has his eye on. Losing his most productive wide player in January would make that wish list a lot more urgent.

Is Mohamed Belloumi right for Arsenal?

On the numbers, Belloumi is a smart, productive winger who has kept improving at every stop, and five goal involvements in 703 minutes this season is a decent return for a newly promoted side.

But I would side with Saâdane on the timing. A January move into a squad already near the top of the table, for a player whose last two seasons were broken up by a cruciate injury and two muscle problems, looks like a gamble. A summer deal, with a full pre-season under Arteta, makes far more sense for both the player and the club.

If Hull stay up and Belloumi keeps this form until May, Arsenal will know exactly what they are buying, and so will everyone else.