Stephanie Aziz Ki has turned down the chance to join CR Belouizdad and will instead sign a new one-year contract at Young Africans (Yanga SC) after months of speculation over his future.

The 28-year-old had everything in his hands. He could activate a one-year contract extension at Young Africans by himself, while he also had the rest of Africa’s elite clubs waiting to snap him up without a transfer fee.

In an official video released by Young Africans, the Burkina Faso attacking midfielder said he is to stay with the club despite attracting offers from several continental giants including Algeria’s CR Belouizdad.

The Algerian topflight side made a proposal to Aziz Ki worth in the region of $440,000 per year. CR Belouizdad, who were in the same CAF Champions League Group with Young Africans last season, were extremely keen to recruit Aziz Ki and considered him their star arrival for the 2024/25 campaign.

The offer included a two-year contract, three months’ advanced salary to be paid, a furnished apartment, and two business class plane tickets to be provided per year.

They won the Algeria Federation Cup but lost the league crown to MC Alger and are now bolstering their squad for next season. They will represent Algeria in the CAF Champions League for the fifth time in a row.

Aziz Ki joined Young Africans from ASEC Mimosas in 2022 in a deal worth up to $150k and has established himself as one of the Tanzania Premier League’s best players. He has played a crucial role in both creating and scoring goals for Young Africans with 21 goals and eight assists in the Premier League last season.

He helped Young Africans win a third successive league title as well as reaching the CAF Champions League quarter-final. The development is a major boost to Young Africans, with Clatous Chama arrival offering them more options in the attacking department.