Simon Banza, a 30-year-old DR Congo international centre-forward, was a priority for CSKA Moskva this summer, but discussions were blocked due to the geopolitical context. The player was also of interest to Botafogo, which submitted an offer, and had been monitored by OGC Nice earlier in the summer transfer window. PAOK has also been recently linked with the player, with some September 2026 reports suggesting a loan move could include a purchase option of €4 million. Banza, who has 17 caps and 2 goals for his country, moved to Al Jazira in September 2025 for a fee of €8.5 million and has a current Transfermarkt market value of €10.00m.