Andrew Olsson
August 17, 2025US Monastir hitman Hazem Mastouri moves to Russia’s Dynamo Makhachkala
Photo: US Monastir
US Monastir hitman Hazem Mastouri moves to Russia’s Dynamo Makhachkala
Tunisia national team striker Hazem Mastouri is the latest North African to join Russian top flight side Dynamo Makhachkala after completing a transfer from Tunisia Ligue 1 runners-up US Monastir on Sunday.
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The 28-year-old joins for reported fee of €350,000 from Monastir, with whom he scored 16 goals last season to finish second on Tunisia’s Ligue 1 scoring charts just behind top scorer Firas Chaouat.
After spending most of his career in relative obscurity, Mastouri’s career has taken a massive leap in the last two years. A season spent in Iraqi football saw him score double digit goals with Al-Najaf SC before returning to Tunisian football with Monastir where he enjoyed a career-best season.
Mastouri’s form has seen him introduced to the Tunisia national team as well as the Eagles of Carthage continue to search for a reliable striker. The towering marksman made his debut at the end of 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, playing the full ninety minutes in a 3-2 home victory over Madagascar in November 2024 where he provided an assist. He scored his first Tunisia goal in March this year, the only goal in a 1-0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying victory at Liberia, before scoring again in a June 2-0 friendly win over Burkina Faso.
Now Mastouri joins a large North African contingent at new club Dynamo, who welcomed the Tunisian with an interesting Star Wars style video. Former CR Belouizdad stars Houssem Mrezigue and Mohamed Azzi are at the club representing Algeria as well as Azzi’s brother Imadeddine. Morocco is also represented at the club after former Wydad Casablanca midfielder Mehdi Moubarik arrived recently from Emirati giants Al Ain.
Dynamo look set to battle relegation again this season after narrowly avoiding the promotion/relegation playoff from Russia’s top flight. The club based in Dagestan are currently in 12th place in the 16-team league with 5 points from 4 games in the early stages of the 2025-26 season and will next face Pari Nizhny Novgorod away on Monday.
