HATEM BEN ARFA
| Passing (P) | Shooting (V) | Heading (H) | Tackling (T) | Control (C) | Speed (S) | Finishing (F) | Total | Bargain | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 28 | 1.0 | £2.75M |
Name: Hatem Ben Arfa
- Full name: Hatem Ben Arfa
- Date of birth: March 7, 1987
- Place of birth: Clamart, Hauts-de-Seine, France
- Nationality: French
- Position: Winger / Attacking midfielder
- Preferred foot: Right (noted for excellent dribbling with both feet)
Club career (selected):
- Youth clubs: Villemomble (1993–1999), Neuilly-sur-Marne (1999–2000), Clairefontaine (2000–2004), Lyon (2004–2005)
- Lyon: 2004–2008 — Broke through at Olympique Lyonnais, winning domestic titles and establishing himself as a promising attacking talent
- Newcastle United: 2008–2010 — Transferred to the Premier League, became a fan favorite for his flair and dribbling
- Marseille: 2010–2011 — Short spell in Ligue 1
- Blackburn Rovers (loan): 2011 — Loaned to Blackburn in the Premier League
- Hull City (loan): 2012 — Loaned to Hull City
- Nice: 2015–2019 — Career resurgence at OGC Nice, earning Player of the Year recognition and returning to international consideration
- Paris Saint-Germain (Paris SG / PSG): 2019–2021 — Joined PSG, adding depth to an attack laden with stars and winning domestic trophies
- Valladolid: 2021–2022 — Brief stint in La Liga
- LA Galaxy: 2022–2023 — Played in Major League Soccer
International career:
- Represented France at youth levels, starred for France U21.
- Senior France team: Debuted in 2007 and earned caps intermittently, including squad involvement ahead of major tournaments; known for technical ability but had limited appearances relative to talent.
Playing style and reputation:
- Highly skillful dribbler with excellent close control, creativity, and flair.
- Capable of producing moments of individual brilliance and unlocking defenses with dribbles or long-range shots.
- Career marked by peaks of outstanding performance and periods affected by injuries or off-field/disciplinary issues, leading to an uneven but celebrated career.
Honours (selected):
- Ligue 1 titles with Lyon (during his time in the squad)
- Domestic cups and league titles with Paris Saint-Germain (during his stint)
- Individual awards: Various club-level recognitions, notably for his form at OGC Nice
Notable facts:
- Developed at the prestigious INF Clairefontaine academy.
- Renowned for comeback story at Nice after years of setbacks.
- Remembered as one of the most technically gifted French players of his generation.