Hamza Rafia
{{short description|Tunisian footballer (born 1999)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Hamza Rafia
| image = Hamza Rafia (cropped).jpg
| upright = 0.7
| caption = Rafia in 2022
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|4|2|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kalaat es Senam, Tunisia
| height = 1.78 m{{NFT player|75394|access-date=24 September 2021}}
| position = Attacking midfielder
| currentclub = Lecce
| clubnumber = 8
| youthyears1 = 2005–2009
| youthclubs1 = Bron Terraillon
| youthyears2 = 2009–2010
| youthclubs2 = Bron Grand Lyon
| youthyears3 = 2010–2016
| youthclubs3 = Lyon
| years1 = 2016–2019
| clubs1 = Lyon B
| caps1 = 26
| goals1 = 5
| years2 = 2019–2023
| clubs2 = Juventus
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2019–2021
| clubs3 = → Juventus U23 ({{Tooltip|res.|Reserve team}})
| caps3 = 43
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2021–2022
| clubs4 = → Standard Liège (loan)
| caps4 = 9
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2022
| clubs5 = → Cremonese (loan)
| caps5 = 12
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2022–2023
| clubs6 = → Juventus Next Gen ({{Tooltip|res.|Reserve team}})
| caps6 = 14
| goals6 = 2
| years7 = 2023
| clubs7 = Pescara
| caps7 = 12
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2023–
| clubs8 = Lecce
| caps8 = 46
| goals8 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2016
| nationalteam1 = France U17
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2016
| nationalteam2 = France U18
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2019–
| nationalteam3 = Tunisia
| nationalcaps3 = 37
| nationalgoals3 = 4
| club-update = 30 May 2025
| ntupdate = 22:00, 14 November 2024 (UTC)
}}
Hamza Rafia ({{langx|ar|حَمْزَة رَفِيعَة}}; born 2 April 1999) is a Tunisian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Italian {{Italian football updater|Lecce}} club Lecce and the Tunisia national team.
Born in Tunisia, Rafia initially represented France at youth level, before switching allegiance to his native country, making his senior debut for Tunisia in 2019.
Early life
Born on 22 April 1999 in Kalaat es Senam, Tunisia, Rafia moved to France as a child and played in the youth sectors of Bron Terraillon, Bron Grand Lyon, and Lyon.{{Cite web|title=Who is Juventus match winner Rafia? {{!}} Football Italia|url=https://www.football-italia.net/164783/who-juventus-match-winner-rafia|access-date=2021-01-13|website=www.football-italia.net}}
Club career
=Lyon B=
Coming through the youth system, Rafia played for the reserve team of Lyon in the Championnat de France Amateur, the fourth division of French football. He made his debut on 28 May 2016, during the 2015–16 season, in a 4–3 home defeat to Moulins Yzeure Foot.{{Cite web|title=Olympique Lyonnais II vs. Moulins Yzeure Foot - 28 May 2016 - Soccerway|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2016/05/28/france/cfa/olympique-lyonnais-ii/as-yzeure/2096004/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=int.soccerway.com}} His first goal for Lyon B came during the 2018–19 season, on 18 August 2018, helping his side win 5–2 against Monaco B.{{Cite web|title=Olympique Lyonnais II vs. Monaco II - 18 August 2018 - Soccerway|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/08/18/france/cfa/olympique-lyonnais-ii/as-monaco-fc-ii/2849156/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=int.soccerway.com}} Rafia scored five goals in 18 league games throughout the season. In four seasons, he scored five goals in 26 games.
=Juventus U23=
On 16 July 2019, Rafia joined Juventus on a three-year contract, for a fee of €400,000, which can reach €5 million in add-ons, and 20% on his future sale.{{Cite web|title=Hamza Rafia completes transfer to Juventus|url=https://www.ol.fr/en/contents/articles/2019/07/16/hamza-rafia-completes-transfer-to-juventus|access-date=2021-01-13|website=www.OL.fr|language=en}} Rafia played for Juventus' reserve team in the Serie C – Juventus U23 – making his professional debut in a 2–0 away loss to Novara in the league on 26 August 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://ca.soccerway.com/matches/2019/08/26/italy/serie-c1/novara-calcio/juventus-u23/3108759/|title=Novara vs. Juventus II - 26 August 2019 - Soccerway|website=ca.soccerway.com}}
On 18 December, Rafia scored his first goal for Juventus U23 in a 2–1 away victory over Piacenza, in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia Serie C.{{Cite web|last=JuventusNews24|first=Redazione|date=2019-12-18|title=Piacenza-Juventus U23 1-2: bianconeri in semifinale di Coppa Italia|url=https://www.juventusnews24.com/piacenza-juventus-u23-sintesi-tabellino-cronaca-live-coppa-italia-serie-c-2019-20/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=Juventus News 24|language=it-IT}} He helped Juventus U23 win the tournament, scoring against Ternana in the final, which ended 2–1. During the 2019–20 season, Rafia played 20 games in the league, two in the promotion play-offs, and scored three goals and made three assists in the Coppa Italia Serie C. On 29 November 2020, Rafia scored his first goal in Serie C in a 2–1 away loss against Olbia.{{Cite web|last=Carinci|first=Josephine|date=2020-11-29|title=Olbia-Juventus U23 2-1: bianconeri sconfitti in Sardegna|url=https://www.juventusnews24.com/olbia-juventus-u23-live-sintesi-moviola-tabellino-risultato-cronaca-serie-c-2020-2021/|access-date=2021-07-14|website=Juventus News 24|language=it-IT}}
=Juventus=
On 13 January 2021, Rafia made his senior debut for Juventus, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute in a Coppa Italia match against Genoa; he scored in the 104th minute, helping Juventus win 3–2 after extra time.{{Cite web|date=14 January 2021|title=Chi è Rafia, il trequartista a segno all'esordio con la Juventus|url=https://www.goal.com/it/notizie/chi-e-rafia-trequartista-esordio-juventus/pm9cnis8kuyx14ye4u1cmcwco|access-date=14 January 2021|website=Goal.com|language=it}}
== Loan to Standard Liège ==
On 18 August 2021, Rafia moved to Belgian side Standard Liège on loan.{{Cite web|last=Juventus.com|title=Under 23, Hamza Rafia in prestito allo Standard Liegi - Juventus|url=https://www.juventus.com/it/news/articoli/under-23-hamza-rafia-in-prestito-allo-standard-liegi|access-date=18 August 2021|website=Juventus F.C.|language=it}}
== Loan to Cremonese==
On 31 January 2022, Rafia moved to Serie B side Cremonese.{{cite press release|publisher=Cremonese|url=https://www.uscremonese.it/rafia-nuovo-calciatore-grigiorosso/|title=RAFIA NUOVO CALCIATORE GRIGIOROSSO|date=31 January 2022|access-date=31 January 2022|language=it|archive-date=31 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131182718/https://www.uscremonese.it/rafia-nuovo-calciatore-grigiorosso/|url-status=dead}}
=Pescara=
On 27 January 2023, Rafia signed a 2.5-year contract with Serie C club Pescara.{{cite web|publisher=Delfino Pescara 1936|url=https://www.pescaracalcio.com/ufficiale-hamza-rafia-e-biancazzurro/|title=HAMZA RAFIA E' BIANCAZZURRO|date=27 January 2023|access-date=27 January 2023|language=it}}
=Lecce=
On 18 July 2023, Rafia signed a three-year contract with Serie A club Lecce.{{cite web|publisher=Lecce|url=https://www.uslecce.it/news/113914580486/hamza-rafia-e-un-calciatore-del-lecce|title=HAMZA RAFIA È UN CALCIATORE DEL LECCE|trans-title=HAMZA RAFIA IS A LECCE FOOTBALLER|date=18 July 2023|access-date=22 August 2023|language=it}} He made his top-tier debut in their season opener against Lazio on 20 August 2023.
Style of play
Rafia is an attacking midfielder also capable of playing as a right winger.
International career
Rafia represented France at under-17 and under-18 levels, but decided to represent Tunisia at senior level. He made his senior debut on 6 September 2019, coming off the bench in a 1–0 friendly win over Mauritania.{{Cite web|url=https://ca.soccerway.com/matches/2019/09/06/world/friendlies/tunisia/mauritania/3147838/?ICID=HP_MS_03_05|title=Tunisia vs. Mauritania - 6 September 2019 - Soccerway|website=ca.soccerway.com}}
Career statistics
=International=
| class="wikitable" | ||||||
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 12 September 2023 | 30 June Stadium, Cairo, Egypt | {{fb|EGY}} | align=center|3–1 | align=center| 3–1 | Friendly |
| 2. | 17 November 2023 | Hammadi Agrebi Stadium, Tunis, Tunisia | {{fb|STP}} | align=center|3–0 | align=center| 4–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3. | 20 January 2024 | Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo, Ivory Coast | {{fb|MLI}} | align=center|1–1 | align=center| 1–1 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 4. | 14 November 2024 | Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa | {{fb|MAD}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center| 3–2 | 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
=Club=
{{updated|match played 25 May 2025}}{{Soccerway|446624|access-date=18 April 2020}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{Efn|Includes Coupe de France, Coppa Italia}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Lyon B
|2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2016–17
|Amateur |0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2017–18
|6 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 2018–19
|National 2 |18 | 5 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 18 | 5 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!26 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 5 | |
| rowspan="4" |Juventus U23
|20 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 9{{Efn|Two appearances in Serie C promotion play-offs, seven appearances and three goals in Coppa Italia Serie C}} | 3 | 29 | 3 | |||
| 2020–21
|Serie C |23 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{Efn|Appearance in Serie C promotion play-offs}} | 0 | 24 | 2 | |||
| 2022–23
|Serie C |13 | 2 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 1 | 0 | 9|14 | 2 | |||
| colspan="2" |Total
!57 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 68 | 7 | |
| Juventus
|0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 1 | ||
| Standard Liège (loan)
|9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 0 | ||
| Cremonese (loan)
|12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 0 | ||
| Pescara
|Serie C |12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6{{Efn|Six appearances in Serie C promotion play-off.}} | 1 | 18 | 1 | |
| rowspan="3"|Lecce
|Serie A |28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 1 | |||
| 2024–25
|Serie A |18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 20 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2" |Total
!46 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 1 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!162 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 185 | 15 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Juventus U23
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{NFT player|75394}}
- {{Soccerway|446624}}
- {{FFF player|7973-rafia-hamza}}
{{US Lecce squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Tunisia squads
| bg = white
| fg = #E70013
| bordercolor = #E70013
| list1 =
{{Tunisia squad 2021 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Tunisia squad 2023 Africa Cup of Nations}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rafia, Hamza}}
Category:People from Kef Governorate
Category:Tunisian emigrants to France
Category:Tunisian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Tunisian sportsmen
Category:Naturalized citizens of France
Category:French men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Olympique Lyonnais players
Category:Juventus Next Gen players
Category:Standard Liège players
Category:Delfino Pescara 1936 players
Category:Championnat National 2 players
Category:Belgian Pro League players
Category:France men's youth international footballers
Category:Tunisia men's international footballers
Category:Tunisian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Tunisian expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Tunisian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
Category:French expatriate men's footballers
Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium
Category:2021 Africa Cup of Nations players