Morocco defender Redouane Halhal closes in on Serie A move to Venezia

Morocco international Redouane Halhal is set to join newly promoted Serie A side Venezia after the Italian club reached an agreement with Belgian outfit Mechelen for the defender’s transfer.

The 23-year-old centre-back is expected to complete his medical in the coming days, with the move likely to be confirmed within 48 hours if the remaining formalities are completed.

Halhal’s arrival would mark a significant step in the career of one of Morocco’s emerging defensive talents after an impressive campaign in Belgium and a growing role with the Atlas Lions.

Venezia agree deal with Mechelen

According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Venezia and Mechelen have finalised an agreement worth around €5 million, with additional bonuses and performance-related incentives included in the package.

The Belgian club will also retain a percentage of any future transfer fee should the Moroccan defender move elsewhere later in his career.

Halhal had previously been linked with fellow Serie A side Hellas Verona during the winter transfer window, but Venezia have now won the race for his signature.

Reward for impressive campaign

The defender enjoyed an outstanding season with Mechelen, making 34 appearances in all competitions.

During that time, he scored once and provided two assists, performances that helped establish him as one of the Belgian club’s most reliable players.

His form also earned him a place in the Moroccan national team, where he has already collected five international caps.

Atlas Lions defender continues to impress

Halhal further enhanced his reputation at the 2026 World Cup after gaining the trust of Morocco coach Mohamed Wahbi.

The defender played the full 90 minutes in Morocco’s 4-2 victory over Haiti before featuring throughout the Atlas Lions’ 3-0 win against Canada.

Those performances strengthened his position within the national team setup and underlined his potential ahead of a possible move to one of Europe’s top leagues.

Venezia prepare for Serie A return

Venezia secured promotion back to Serie A after finishing top of the second division with 82 points during the 2025-26 campaign.

The club will begin their top-flight season away to Lecce on 23 August before facing an early challenge against AC Milan five days later.

If the deal is completed as expected, Halhal will become the latest Moroccan player to test himself in Italy’s top division.