Yassine Kechta: Morocco midfielder linked with Standard Liege move

Yassine Kechta, the Morocco international midfielder currently without a club, is being linked with a move to Belgian side Standard Liege in the Jupiler Pro League. The 24-year-old left Le Havre at the start of July and is available on a free transfer, a situation that is understood to have alerted the Liege club as they look to strengthen their midfield options.

Kechta, who was born in Paris and holds both Moroccan and French nationality, has established himself in senior football with Le Havre, making 93 Ligue 1 appearances and featuring regularly in Frances top flight over recent seasons. His displays in Normandy saw his market valuation rise to 4m as of June, with a previous peak of 5m.

A left-footed central midfielder standing at 1.74m, Kechta progressed through the ranks at Le Havre after joining from Paris FC as a youth player, eventually stepping up from the clubs B team to the first team in 2022. He was part of the Le Havre side that won the French second tier in 2022-23, securing promotion to Ligue 1.

On the international stage, Kechta enhanced his profile by helping Morocco claim third place at the 2024 Olympic Games, adding to interest from clubs outside France. His free-agent status means Standard Liege would not need to pay a transfer fee, with discussions expected to focus on contract length and salary as the Belgian club weigh up a move for the midfielder.