Elyaz Zidane, the 20-year-old youngest son of French football legend Zinedine Zidane, has left Spain’s Real Betis academy to sign with French Ligue 2 club Red Star, detiksport reported. The move marks a permanent return to France for the defender, who spent his formative years climbing through the youth ranks at Real Madrid before his spell in Seville.
The Decision to Join Red Star and Leave Spain Behind
After completing his youth development in Spain, Elyaz sought a professional environment in his family’s native country. According to details published by Tribuna and noted by Topik.id, the defender had multiple offers on the table from French clubs but ultimately chose the Paris-based side because of their concrete approach.
🚨 OFFICIEL ! Elyaz Zidane (2005) quitte le Real Betis et rejoint le Red Star ! 🆕⭐️ pic.twitter.com/iC3q38LAhz
“Setelah menjalani seluruh pelatihan saya di Spanyol, saya ingin menjajal liga di Prancis. Saya memang memiliki opsi lain di Prancis, tetapi Red Star menunjukkan kepercayaan yang sungguh-sungguh kepada saya,” Elyaz stated, as cited by Tribuna and Topik.id.
That backing has translated immediately to the pitch. Red Star manager Damien Perrinelle has integrated the young defender quickly into the senior setup. Across the opening eight weeks of the 2006–2007 Ligue 2 campaign, Elyaz has already featured in seven matches as a starter, contributing one assist from the backline as the club chases promotion to Ligue 1, as reported by bsinews.id.
Real Madrid Roots and Transition to Central Defense
Elyaz’s journey to professional football began well before his move to Andalusia. In 2021, he entered the Real Madrid academy, playing across the U-17 and U-19 age groups. During his time in Spain, he also earned international recognition with a call-up to the France U-20 national team, as detailed by Topik.id.
Standing at 196 cm, the left-footed player has undergone significant physical and tactical evolution. While he experimented with midfield and attacking roles during his early childhood, a growth spurt around the age of fifteen prompted his coaches to shift him into the defensive unit. As he explained to Le Parisien in an interview translated by Tuttomercatoweb and reported by bsinews.id:
“Saat masih kecil, saya mencoba beberapa posisi, di lini tengah dan lini serang. Kemudian, saya bermain sebagai bek kiri dan sekitar usia 15 tahun, saya mengalami pertumbuhan fisik yang pesat. Para pelatih melihat potensi dalam diri saya untuk bermain di jantung pertahanan: saya tinggi, berkaki kiri, dan memiliki kemampuan yang baik dalam membangun serangan.”
Stepping Out from Beneath a Legendary Name
Carrying the Zidane surname in French football comes with intense scrutiny. Zinedine Zidane’s four sons—Enzo, Luca, Theo, and Elyaz—have all pursued professional football careers, with Luca representing Algeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as noted by bsinews.id. For Elyaz, living up to the standards of a World Cup-winning father and former Real Madrid manager has created unique hurdles.
In an interview with Le Parisien highlighted by Goal.com and bsinews.id, Elyaz addressed the constant comparisons:
“Ada aspek positif namun juga lebih kompleks, terutama perbandingan yang terus-menerus dan fakta bahwa Anda dinilai lebih keras dari yang lain.”
He added that media attention during formative years made it difficult to develop without constant surveillance. To carve out his own identity on the pitch, Elyaz has deliberately chosen to print only his first name across the back of his jersey—a tradition he started at Real Betis and carried over to Red Star, emphasizing that he wants to write his own story without hiding from his lineage.
Upcoming Fixtures in Ligue 2
Red Star continues its Ligue 2 campaign with a high-stakes fixture against Saint-Etienne on Saturday, October 17, 2006 (Sunday early morning WIB), as reported by bsinews.id. The match serves as a crucial test for Damien Perrinelle’s squad as they battle to maintain momentum in the race for promotion to France’s top flight.
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