Moroccan forward Hamza Igamane has signed a contract extension with Lille that keeps him at the club until 2031. Lille announced the new deal on 7 November, backing the striker as he enters the final stage of his recovery from a serious right knee injury.
Igamane has not played a competitive match since 18 January 2026, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal. The new contract gives Lille a longer commitment from the forward and offers Igamane security while he completes his rehabilitation.
Lille president Olivier Létang said the club offered the extension to show its trust in Igamane during a difficult time in his career. Létang added that Lille will put the player’s health and well-being first as he works toward a return to competitive football.
Igamane thanked Létang, the coaching staff, his teammates and the club’s supporters for standing by him during his time on the sidelines. He said he wants to come back stronger, score more goals and help the team on the pitch.
Strong start in France cut short by injury
Before the injury, Igamane made an immediate impact after joining Lille from Scottish club Rangers in August 2025. He scored twice on his debut against Lorient and totaled nine goals in 18 appearances across all competitions. That record included five goals in 13 Ligue 1 matches and four goals in five Europa League games.
His season ended in the closing stages of the Africa Cup of Nations final. Brought on as a substitute in the 97th minute, Igamane had to leave the pitch six minutes later after colliding with the Senegal goalkeeper. Lille confirmed the ACL tear the next day and stated that he would miss several months, ruling him out for the rest of the 2025/26 campaign.
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Next steps in rehabilitation
Igamane has worked through his recovery step by step over the past ten months. According to a 5 November report by Elbotola, which cited information from Lille’s official website, the final phase of his individual training programme focused on testing his ability to change direction and building up his top running speed.
Lille stated on 7 November that it hopes Igamane can rejoin first-team group training after the November international break. The club has not set a date for his return to competitive matches and made clear that it will not rush him back. His return to the matchday squad will depend on how he progresses once he resumes full team training and finishes the remaining steps of his recovery.
