Dackens Nazoun, a Haitian striker and last season's Esteghlal player, has started a new chapter in his football career by transferring to Al-Nasr Benghazi. This transfer occurred as Nazoun was recognized as a free agent after unilaterally terminating his contract with the Blues on July 20.
Nazoun's Challenging Path at Esteghlal
Nazoun joined Esteghlal last summer from Kayserispor Turkey. His release fee at that time was reported to be around 900,000 euros, and it was expected that he would perform successfully at Esteghlal given his record of 11 goals in 46 matches for Kayserispor. However, he was unable to secure a stable position in Ricardo Sapinto's starting lineup and spent a significant portion of the matches on the bench.
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Challenges of Escaping Iran and Nazoun's Future
Nazoun played a total of 19 matches for Esteghlal, scoring only 2 goals and providing 2 assists. One of these goals was scored in an Asian match against Al-Muharraq of Bahrain, and the other in the 90+8 minute of the match against Shams Azar, securing a 3-2 victory for the Blues. With the onset of war and the suspension of competitions, Nazoun's situation in Iran became more complicated. After his flight from Tehran was canceled, he left via land routes and crossed the border into Azerbaijan, eventually reaching France.
This striker had announced before the start of the 2026 World Cup that he had one more season left on his contract with Esteghlal and would return to Iran. However, after the competitions ended, he did not return to Tehran and on July 20, sent a letter to Esteghlal, unilaterally terminating his contract due to non-payment of his dues. A few weeks later, Nazoun stated that he was ready to return and compete for a spot in Esteghlal's lineup if he received his dues and obtained a visa and ticket.
However, negotiations between the two sides did not reach a conclusion, and his transfer to Al-Nasr confirmed the end of Nazoun's sporting relationship with Esteghlal. While no official explanations regarding the settlement of dues or potential agreements have been published yet, Al-Nasr pursued Nazoun after the failed acquisition of Aboubakar Kamara, aiming for their fourth championship in the Libyan league under the guidance of Algerian coach Kheireddine Madoui.
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