Rio Ave bring in France-Morocco playmaker Malik Sellouki on long-term deal

French-Moroccan attacking midfielder Malik Sellouki has joined Portuguese club Rio Ave from Stade Lavallois, adding a new creative option to their midfield for the 2026-27 season.

The 26-year-old completed the move on 26 August and has signed a contract with the Liga Portugal side running until 30 June 2030. The transfer takes Sellouki out of Ligue 2 and into Portugal’s top flight after two appearances for Stade Lavallois in the 2026-27 campaign.

Sellouki, who was born in Nice, operates primarily as an attacking midfielder and is naturally right-footed. He stands 1.77m tall and arrives at Rio Ave after two seasons with Stade Lavallois, where he moved in August 2024 following the end of his spell at Dutch club ADO Den Haag.

His move to Stade Lavallois followed a free transfer from ADO Den Haag. Sellouki had previously joined the Dutch club from Slovenia’s NK Maribor, also on a free transfer, after helping Maribor win the Slovenian championship in the 2021-22 season.

That title remains the major team honour of his senior career. Sellouki began his football development in France, progressing through youth football at Monaco and Cannes before moving into the senior game with Cannes. He later spent time with the reserve side of OGC Nice before leaving France for Maribor.

Rio Ave become the latest club in a career that has taken Sellouki across France, Slovenia, the Netherlands and now Portugal. His arrival also marks a return to a top-flight environment after his recent seasons in Ligue 2, where his playing time had been recorded in midfield rather than in a deeper role.

Sellouki’s current market value is €900,000, while the highest value recorded during his career has been €1.5m. Those figures do not represent the terms of the transfer, but provide context for the profile of the player Rio Ave have added to their squad.

The move gives Sellouki a fresh opportunity in Portugal after his progression through several European leagues. He joins Rio Ave as a 26-year-old midfielder with experience in France, the Netherlands and Slovenia, and with a domestic league title already on his record.

Sellouki has completed his move from Stade Lavallois to Rio Ave and is contracted to the Portuguese club until 30 June 2030.