Houssem Aouar has quietly built serious wealth since leaving Lyon for the riches of Saudi football.
The Algerian attacking midfielder is one of the better-paid players in the Saudi Pro League, and his Houssem Aouar net worth story is a fascinating mix of European pedigree and Middle Eastern financial muscle.
Houssem Aouar’s Biography
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Houssem-Eddine Chaâbane Aouar |
| Date of Birth | 30 June 1998 |
| Age | 27 years old |
| Birthplace | Villeurbanne, Lyon, France |
| Nationality | French-Algerian |
| Height | 175 cm |
| Position | Attacking Midfielder |
| Current Club | Al-Ittihad (Saudi Pro League) |
| Shirt Number | #10 |
| Turned Professional | July 2016 |
| Current Contract | July 2024 – June 2028 |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~$28–30 million |
| Annual Salary | €6.12 million (~€117,500/week) |
| Relationship Status | N/A |
Early Life & Career
Houssem-Eddine Chaâbane Aouar was born on 30 June 1998 in Villeurbanne, a commune in the Lyon metropolitan area, to parents who originally came from Béni Saf, Algeria.
He started playing football at just six years old in a local neighborhood club, AS Tonkin Villeurbanne, before moving to Athletic Club de Villeurbanne in 2006.
His talent was obvious from a young age. In 2009, Olympique Lyonnais invited him for trials and he passed with ease, joining the club’s famous academy at the U12 level at the age of 11.
In an early interview, he described the move as “a dream come true,” recalling the feeling of going from a tiny neighborhood club to one of France’s biggest football institutions.
At Lyon’s academy, Aouar rapidly outgrew every age group. At just 16, he led the U17 side to the French championship title, scoring 25 goals and contributing 16 assists — including a goal in the final against PSG.
He also represented France at youth level, playing for the U17 and later the U19 national teams, before earning the nickname La Pépite (The Nugget) within the club. He signed his first professional contract with Lyon in July 2016.
Professional Career
Aouar made his senior debut on 16 February 2017 in a 4–1 Europa League win over AZ Alkmaar, coming off the bench in the 84th minute.
Just a week later, he scored his first professional goal in the return leg — a 7–1 victory at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais.
He was handed the symbolic number 8 shirt at Lyon — a jersey previously worn by club legend Juninho — ahead of the 2017–18 season.
Over the next six seasons, Aouar became one of the most technically gifted midfielders in Ligue 1. He made 233 appearances for Lyon’s first team, scoring 41 goals and contributing 34 assists.
His standout campaign came in 2019–20, when Lyon reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, upsetting both Juventus and Manchester City along the way.
Aouar earned a place in the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season for that performance.
In June 2023, he signed a five-year contract with AS Roma on a free transfer, joining José Mourinho’s squad in Serie A.
After one season in Italy — where he made 16 league appearances and scored 4 goals — he joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad in July 2024 for a reported transfer fee of €12 million.
At Al-Ittihad, Aouar has flourished. In 2024–25, he delivered an impressive 12 league goals and 4 assists in 30 Saudi Pro League appearances.
He helped the club win the Saudi Pro League title and the King’s Cup in 2024–25 — the most decorated season of his club career.
On the international stage, Aouar switched his allegiance from France (1 cap) to Algeria in 2023, saying he “regretted” choosing France and felt the Algerian call was “just meant to be.”
He represented Algeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and has scored 6 international goals in 20 appearances for the Desert Foxes as of March 2026.
Houssem Aouar’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Houssem Aouar’s has an estimated net worth of approximately $28–30 million.
He built this wealth through over a decade of professional football contracts — first at Lyon across seven seasons in Ligue 1, then at Roma in Serie A, and now through a highly lucrative, tax-free deal with Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
Contract
Aouar signed a four-year contract with Al-Ittihad on 18 July 2024, with the deal running until 30 June 2028.
According to Transfermarkt, his current market value sits at €8 million. Al-Ittihad paid a reported €12 million transfer fee to sign him from Roma, making it the biggest club-to-club transfer of his career.
The four-year deal gives him strong financial security through to his 30th birthday, with a total estimated gross value of €24.48 million remaining on the contract.
Salary
According to Capology, Aouar earns an estimated base salary of €6.12 million per year (approximately €117,692 gross per week) at Al-Ittihad.
Crucially, Saudi Arabia imposes no personal income tax, meaning Aouar takes home his full salary — a major financial advantage compared to earning the same figure in France or Italy.
At Roma, he earned around €3.6 million per year, while his final Lyon contract was in a similar range. The jump to Saudi football effectively doubled his annual earnings overnight.
Career Earnings By Year
| Year | Club | League | Est. Annual Salary (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Lyon | Ligue 1 | €193,000 |
| 2018 | Lyon | Ligue 1 | €784,000 |
| 2019 | Lyon | Ligue 1 | €1,508,000 |
| 2020 | Lyon | Ligue 1 | €3,619,000 |
| 2021 | Lyon | Ligue 1 | €3,860,000 |
| 2022 | Lyon | Ligue 1 | €3,740,000 |
| 2023 | Lyon | Ligue 1 | €3,800,000 |
| 2023–24 | AS Roma | Serie A | €3,619,000 |
| 2024–25 | Al-Ittihad | Saudi Pro League | €6,120,000 |
| 2025–26 | Al-Ittihad | Saudi Pro League | €6,120,000 |
Career Statistics
| Club | Season | League Apps | League Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyon | 2016–17 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Lyon | 2017–18 | 32 | 6 | 44 | 7 |
| Lyon | 2018–19 | 37 | 7 | 47 | 7 |
| Lyon | 2019–20 | 25 | 3 | 41 | 9 |
| Lyon | 2020–21 | 30 | 7 | 33 | 8 |
| Lyon | 2021–22 | 36 | 6 | 45 | 8 |
| Lyon | 2022–23 | 16 | 1 | 18 | 1 |
| Lyon Total | 179 | 30 | 233 | 41 | |
| AS Roma | 2023–24 | 16 | 4 | 25 | 4 |
| Al-Ittihad | 2024–25 | 30 | 12 | 34 | 13 |
| Al-Ittihad | 2025–26 | 22 | 7 | 34 | 14 |
| Career Total | 269 | 57 | 348 | 76 |
International Career Stats (as of 31 March 2026)
| National Team | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| France | 1 | 0 |
| Algeria | 20 | 6 |
| Career Total | 21 | 6 |
FAQs
What is Houssem Aouar’s net worth?
Houssem Aouar’s estimated net worth is approximately $28–30 million. He built this through his contracts at Lyon, Roma, and his current tax-free deal at Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
How much does Houssem Aouar earn per week?
He earns an estimated €117,692 gross per week at Al-Ittihad, which amounts to approximately €6.12 million per year. His Saudi contract is tax-free, so he takes home the full amount.
Which club does Houssem Aouar play?
Aouar plays for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League. He joined the club in July 2024 on a four-year deal worth €12 million in transfer fees, with his contract running until June 2028.
What nationality does Houssem Aouar represent internationally?
Aouar represents Algeria internationally. He made one senior appearance for France in 2020 before switching his allegiance to Algeria. He has scored 6 goals in 20 appearances for Algeria as of March 2026.
What are Houssem Aouar’s biggest career achievements?
His biggest honors include the Saudi Pro League title (2024–25), the King’s Cup (2024–25), and the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season award (2019–20) after Lyon’s remarkable run to the semi-finals.
