Mesloub, 16, signs with Lens and turns down Benfica
Mezian Mesloub is set to sign his first professional contract with RC Lens. The 16-year-old forward, developed by the French club’s youth ranks, rejected an offer from Benfica and interest from PSV Eindhoven to stay in northern France. The decision was quick. The youngster did not hesitate.
The boy who came on and scored in five seconds
Mesloub became a talking point in May this year when he found the net just five seconds after coming on against Nantes, in Ligue 1. It was his first goal among the professionals, and it came before the fans even realized he had crossed the touchline. It’s hard to make a more striking entrance than that.
An international for Portugal at Under-17 level, the forward has a dual background and has been on the radar of big European clubs for some time. Benfica went concrete and made a formal offer. PSV showed interest. Even so, the player decided to stay where he grew up.
Why he stayed at Lens
It was not just sentiment. Lens treated the renewal as a strategic priority for the summer of 2026 and handled the negotiations swiftly. The club offered the youngster a competitive environment he already knows well, with real room to develop without the weight of having to adapt to a new country, language and culture from one moment to the next.
Mesloub has a strong bond with the region – he grew up there, was trained there – and chose to mature his football in a context he considers both safe and stimulating. The length of the contract has not yet been officially disclosed.
Pre-season already has goals
The new phase has already begun with a good sign: last week, in a friendly against Boulogne-sur-Mer, Mesloub scored twice. The first brace of his career, even in a preparation match, reinforces the impression that the youngster is far from being a one-appearance phenomenon.
At 16 and with a historic goal on his résumé, he begins the season with a different status within the squad. Lens bet on him. Now it is up to Mesloub to show how long that bet will pay off.
