Atlas Lions in Limbo: Ziyech, Ounahi, and Others Face Uncertain Futures as Transfer Deadline Looms

Currently, Hakim Ziyech, 32, is without a club. He amicably terminated his contract with Al Duhail, after only four months of collaboration. He arrived in Qatar last January, after a period of "two or three months" of inactivity at Galatasaray, in Turkey. He scored one goal and provided one assist in 13 appearances, across all competitions. Several European clubs, particularly in Spain, Italy and the Netherlands, including Celta Vigo and Fiorentina, have expressed interest in him, but nothing is decisive for the moment. His compatriot Bilal El Khannouss is in a similar situation. His club Leicester City has received offers from Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur, but Leicester refuses to lift his release clause, taking advantage of the competition between clubs to increase its value.

Azzedine Ounahi is also in a zone of uncertainty about his future. While OM hopes to carry out a major operation, the Moroccan international maintains his choice to join Girona or to stay at Marseille without discussing other alternative offers. But the offer proposed by the Spanish club proves unsatisfactory. OM is demanding 12 million to release him. As for Eliesse Ben Seghir, he also wishes to have a new experience in a club other than AS Monaco, but the negotiations between Bayer Leverkusen, who made an offer of 25 million to the French club, have not yet been successful. The other Atlas Lions who are in difficulty are: Youssef En-Nesyri and Sofyan Amrabat. While both have received offers from European clubs: En-Nesyri a proposal from West Ham United in England worth 40 million euros, and Amrabat an offer from Inter Milan valued at 20 million euros, the negotiations are still ongoing.

Meanwhile, ten Moroccan internationals have had the chance to join clubs in Europe. One of them is called Zakaria Aboukhlal. He will continue his football career in Italy. For the first time in his history, he has joined the Italian Serie A by signing with Torino FC for a period of 4 years until 2029, coming from Toulouse FC in France. The cost of the operation is 10 million. Neil El Aynaoui has also joined AS Roma this summer with a contract that will keep him in the club for 5 years. The club spent 25 million. In the Spanish Liga, Abdelkabir Abqar, previously a player for Deportivo Alavés, joins the Getafe CF squad under a three-season contract running until 2028. He will have to strengthen the defense of his new club. His compatriot Youssef Lekhedim replaces him by signing a four-season contract with the Spanish club until the summer of 2029.

In French Ligue 1, it is Youssef El-Arabi, who is making a comeback in the five major championships. The Moroccan international joins FC Nantes for one season, after terminating his contract with APOEL Nicosia in Cyprus. On the English championship side, Amine Adli joins AFC Bournemouth in a transfer estimated at 29 million euros. He had just put an end to his adventure in the Bundesliga. His compatriot Chemsdine Talbi is back in the Premier League after a long absence, with a contract running until 2030. He joins Sunderland AFC, for a contract running until 2030. The Arab championships record the arrival of the Moroccan defender Jawad El Yamiq who has joined the club Al-Najma SC in Saudi Arabia, coming from Al-Wehda FC, adding his third year in the Saudi Pro League.

On the Moroccan championship side, two players have also flown to Europe. Hatim Essaouabi signed a four-year contract with the Belgian club KAA Gent (La Gantoise), while the promising young Moroccan goalkeeper Rayan Azouagh recently joined Sevilla FC with a three-season contract. All these Moroccan players hope to defend the colors of the Moroccan flag at the next Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) scheduled from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026 in Morocco.