Olympique de Marseille’s pursuit of Moroccan defender Soufiane El Karouani has ended, with the FC Utrecht left-back opting for a move to Saudi Arabia instead.
The Ligue 1 side had shown interest in El Karouani as his contract entered its final six months, but the 25-year-old has reached an agreement with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Qadsiah and will complete the transfer at the end of the season.
El Karouani enjoyed a standout campaign in the Eredivisie, producing an impressive 15 assists and three goals in 34 appearances—figures that placed him among the league’s most productive full-backs.
His consistency, attacking output and influence down the left flank attracted strong interest from Marseille’s hierarchy.
The Moroccan international, who has been capped five times, has already signed his contract and is set to begin a new chapter in Saudi Arabia next season.
El Karouani started his professional career at NEC Nijmegen, where he featured between 2019 and 2023.
During that period, he established himself as a regular starter, making over 100 appearances and earning praise for his reliability and attacking contribution from left-back, scoring five goals while maintaining defensive solidity.
He joined FC Utrecht in 2023 and quickly became a key member of the squad. Over the following two seasons, he made more than 80 appearances and scored four goals, further cementing his reputation as one of the Eredivisie’s most dependable and attack-minded full-backs.
On the international stage, El Karouani has represented Morocco since 2021, earning five caps in World Cup qualifiers and friendly matches.
