The winter transfer window, which drew to a close last Monday, was marked by intense activity as clubs across Europe, the Arab world and North Africa raced to reinforce their squads with both emerging prospects and seasoned campaigners.
Among the most closely followed profiles were Moroccan internationals, who attracted widespread interest after impressing since the start of the 2025–2026 season.
Moroccan players featured prominently in the market, with demand coming from European, Arab and domestic clubs eager to secure their services. Particular attention was given to members of the Atlas Lions squad that lifted the Under-20 World Cup in Chile in 2025, as clubs moved quickly in the hope of benefiting from their talent and momentum across various competitions.
In France, Stade Rennais confirmed the signing of highly rated Moroccan prospect Yasser Zoubiry from Portuguese side Famalicão on a deal running until 2029. Rennes have continued to place their trust in graduates of the Mohammed VI Football Academy, having already recruited central defender Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, following in the footsteps of Nayef Aguerd, now with Marseille.
Strasbourg were also active, completing the transfer of attacking midfielder Yassine Jassim from Ligue 2 side Dunkirk. The Moroccan playmaker signed a long-term contract until 2030 and is set to line up alongside compatriot Samir Amrabat, with hopes high that the duo can play a key role in the club’s ambitions in French football.
One of the standout moves of the window, according to observers of Moroccan football, came from Wydad Athletic Club. The Casablanca giants secured the signing of Atlas Lions midfielder Naim Biar from Italian side Bologna, a move seen as part of Wydad’s strategy to blend youth with experience. Biar is expected to complement veterans such as Noureddine Amrabat and Hakim Ziyech as the club targets success on both domestic and continental fronts.
Not all Moroccan stars, however, were on the move. English club Watford rejected multiple offers for winger Othman Maama, opting to retain the player until the end of the season despite strong interest from across Europe. Foot Mercato reported that Lille, Nantes and Italian giants Roma had all expressed interest in the 20-year-old, but Watford deemed him indispensable to their plans.
A similar decision was taken by Ismail Baouf, a key figure in Morocco’s Under-20 side and a standout performer for Dutch second-division club Cambuur. Despite interest from several clubs, including French outfit Saint-Étienne, Baouf chose to remain in the Netherlands to help Cambuur push for promotion to the Eredivisie, prioritising continuity over an immediate move.
Elsewhere, midfielder Amir Richardson made a temporary switch to Denmark, joining FC Copenhagen on loan from Fiorentina until the end of the season, with an option to buy included in the agreement. In Spain, winger Ilias Akhomach opted for a loan move to Rayo Vallecano from Villarreal as he works his way back to full fitness following a long-term knee injury.
Veteran international Sofiane Boufal, who had been close to a return to Wydad, instead chose to sign for French side Le Havre, currently battling in the lower half of Ligue 1. The move marks a return to familiar surroundings for Boufal, who brings extensive European experience to the club.
Moroccan influence was also evident in the Arab world, with Egyptian giants Al-Ahly strengthening their squad by signing left-back Youssef Belamri, formerly of Raja Casablanca, on a three-and-a-half-year deal. He becomes the seventh Moroccan player to represent Al-Ahly in recent years, joining a growing list of Atlas Lions who have passed through the club.
Defender Jawad El Yamiq opted to return to Spain, sealing a move to Real Zaragoza in the second division after leaving Saudi side Al-Najma. His decision marks another chapter in his career in Spanish football, having previously worn Zaragoza’s colours during the second half of the 2019–2020 season.
As the window closed, Saudi club Al-Ittihad announced the high-profile signing of striker Youssef En-Nesyri from Turkish side Fenerbahce. The move was designed to bolster the club’s attacking options following the departure of Karim Benzema, who terminated his contract to join rivals Al-Hilal on a free transfer.
While many deals involving Moroccan internationals have now been finalised, several situations remain unresolved. The futures of Adam Masina, Reda Belhayane and Sofiane El Karouani are still under discussion, ensuring that Moroccan players will continue to feature prominently in transfer conversations even after the official closure of the winter market.
