Redouane Halhal on the brink of a Venezia move after Morocco World Cup return

Venezia are close to completing a deal for Morocco international Redouane Halhal, with the Serie A newcomers understood to have agreed a fee of about €5m plus bonuses with KV Mechelen.

The 23-year-old central defender, who can also operate on either side of the defence, is expected to leave the Belgian club after one season. Halhal joined KV Mechelen in August 2024 and was immediately loaned to Helmond Sport for the campaign.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio of Sky Sport Italia, Venezia have reached an agreement with KV Mechelen to buy out the final year of Halhal’s contract. The Italian club are now close to securing the versatile defender, who has five caps for Morocco.

The proposed transfer would take Halhal into Serie A after a season in which he established himself as an important player in Belgium. He made 33 league appearances for KV Mechelen last term, starting 32 of those matches, and contributed one goal and two assists.

That form helped him earn a return to the Morocco squad for the 2026 World Cup. Morocco reached the quarter-finals of the tournament, with Halhal featuring twice during their campaign.

He was third in the defensive pecking order behind Issa Diop and Chadi Riad, but was brought into the side for Morocco’s third and final group-stage match against Haiti, which ended in a 2-4 result. He also played in the last-16 tie against Canada, a 0-3 match.

Halhal’s ability to cover several defensive positions is understood to have appealed to Venezia, who will be competing in Serie A after securing promotion. His primary role is at centre-back, although he is also capable of playing on both flanks.

The agreement between Venezia and KV Mechelen is reported to include a guaranteed payment of €5m, with additional performance-related bonuses to be added to the overall value of the transfer.

For KV Mechelen, the deal would bring an end to Halhal’s time at the club after just one year. For Venezia, it would provide a further addition to their squad ahead of their return to Italy’s top flight.

Halhal’s progression has accelerated since his loan spell at Helmond Sport. His regular involvement in the Belgian championship, combined with his defensive versatility, helped him move back into international contention and ultimately secure a place in Morocco’s World Cup squad.

The move remains close rather than officially completed, but Venezia are now in a strong position to sign the Morocco defender for the final stage of his development in Serie A.