Marseille set to sign Moroccan international Souffian El Karouani

– bySaid · 1 min read
Marseille set to sign Moroccan international Souffian El Karouani

Olympique de Marseille are close to finalizing the transfer of Moroccan international left-back Souffian El Karouani from FC Utrecht. Initially targeted for the summer transfer window, the 25-year-old defender is expected to join the club from Marseille as early as this winter to cover for the injured Emerson Palmieri.

Olympique de Marseille’s recruitment department is working intensively during the final hours of the winter transfer window. According to information from the daily newspaper L’Équipe, the Marseille club has accelerated negotiations to sign Souffian El Karouani. The player, whose contract with Dutch club FC Utrecht expires next June, had been monitored for a long time by the Olympian hierarchy, which ultimately decided to bring forward his arrival.

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This change of schedule is directly linked to the squad’s vulnerability at left-back. Emerson Palmieri’s injury has created a gap that Marseille’s leaders want to fill immediately with the Moroccan’s technical and attacking profile. Born in 2000 in Bois-le-Duc, El Karouani completed his development at NEC Nimègue before establishing himself at Utrecht following his arrival in 2023.

To read: Transfer window: OM step up efforts to sign Ismael Saibari, Moroccan international from PSV

A Moroccan international with five caps for the Atlas Lions, Souffian El Karouani will provide Marseille’s coach with an additional option for the second half of the season. Barring a last-minute twist, the transfer should be officially announced before the imminent close of the transfer window.