Nabil Dirar joins Santa Lucia FC as experienced Moroccan-Belgian defender returns to Malta

Moroccan-Belgian right-back Nabil Dirar has joined Maltese club Santa Lucia FC after a period without a club.

The 40-year-old has signed a contract running until 30 June 2027 and will play in Malta’s Challenge League. The move, completed on 22 August 2026, brings Dirar back into club football after he left North Macedonian side Gostivar at the end of the 2024-25 season.

Dirar’s career has included spells across Belgium, France, Turkey, Monaco, Luxembourg, Denmark, Morocco and North Macedonia. He joined Gostivar from Luxembourg side Schifflange 95 in August 2024, having initially moved to Schifflange as a free agent in January that year.

The defender began his senior career with Diegem Sport before joining KVC Westerlo in 2006. He moved to Club Brugge two years later and went on to make 157 appearances in the Belgian top flight, registering 15 goals and 45 assists.

Dirar switched to Monaco in January 2012 for €6m and helped the club win the French second-tier title in 2012-13 before contributing to their Ligue 1 championship success in 2016-17. He later moved to Fenerbahce in 2017 for €3.5m.

During his time in Turkey, Dirar made 79 appearances in the Super Lig, scoring seven goals and providing 12 assists. He also recorded 16 Champions League appearances and 20 Europa League appearances during his career.

Dirar returned to Belgium with Club Brugge on loan from Fenerbahce in January 2021. He made 19 appearances in the Belgian Champions’ Play-Offs during that campaign and ended the season with another league title before joining Fenerbahce again.

His subsequent career took him to Kasimpasa, SCC Mohammedia, Ishoj IF, Schifflange 95 and Gostivar. He now adds Santa Lucia FC to a career that has included three domestic league titles: the French championship with Monaco, the Belgian championship with Club Brugge and the French second-tier crown with Monaco.

Dirar, a right-footed defender listed at 1.87m, has signed for Santa Lucia FC through June 2027.