Ex-U21 international gives an insight
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After surviving injury, the former German U21 international Reda Khadra wants to fully attack again this season. From Ligue-1 relegated Stade Reims, where he has been under contract since 2023 and until 2027, he switched back to Le Havre AC at the Deadline Day. The club secured a purchase option. At the transfer market, the 24 -year -old creative offensive player gives an insight into the decision per Le Havre and confirms that he had previously thought about returning to Germany.
“I chose Le Havre because I already know the club and here the fans, the stadium and the whole atmosphere are simply strong,” says Khadra when asked about transfer market. “I also like the city on the water very much. Overall, the club gave me a very good feeling – it fit from the start.” Sports director and ex-professional Mathieu Bodmer praised at “Foot Normand”: “He can play in all offensive positions: Point Guard, right wing, left wing, even center. He is very quick with the ball. He plays vertically. Every time he touches the ball, he goes forward.”
Reims had signed Khadra 2023 for 1.9 million euros from Brighton & Hove Albion, where he again switched from BVB’s youth in 2020. For the north-east French, the Berlin native was on the pitch 36 times, scored a goal and three assists. From the end of September 2024, Khadra had to watch due to a cruciate ligament tear. According to his own statement, he has now completely recovered from this. It is “outstanding,” he says. “I used the time to invest a lot in myself and my body, and I feel extremely strong and hungry. Mentally and physically I have grown again and look forward to helping with my qualities of the team.”
Haaland confidant helped Reda Khadra in the rehabilitation
John Haddad, Personal Coach of Man-City striker Erling Haaland (25), also helped him: “I continue to work with him because I know how important it is to work hard next to the square.”
Le Havre is known for his good youth training, where later top players such as Loïc Badé (25), Paul Pogba (32), Dimitri Payet (38), Steve Mandanda (40) or Lassana Diarra (40) played in youth, sometimes became professionals. The current coach Didier Digard, in office since July 2024, also came from the academy there and played for the first team. About the 39-year-old and his plan with the newcomer Khadra says: “He was a very successful player himself, knows the Ligue 1 very well and has a clear game idea. He does a very good job. My job will be to revive our game with speed and speed and to help the team offensive and defensively as much as possible.”
© RK – Reda Khadra (ML) with his consultants at his performance in Le Havre
Khadra thanks Reims – conversations with German clubs also
Khadra was grateful to Stade Reims, who enabled him to change the last minute after positive conversations: “The club respected my wish to stay in Ligue 1 and open up this opportunity. I am very grateful for that. I wish the club and the fans that they rise again.”
For Khadra, there would also be the opportunity to return to Germany in England and France after five years: “Yes, there were conversations with some clubs that were very positive. In the end, however, I had the feeling that it was right for me to stay in France – in a league that I already know well.”
Interview: Marius Soyke
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