Utrecht U21 add NEC right-back Yousri Sbai on season-long loan

Dutch-Moroccan right-back Yousri Sbai has joined Utrecht U21 from NEC Nijmegen on loan until 30 June 2027. The 22-year-old defender moves to a Utrecht side competing in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie after being part of NEC’s senior set-up.

Sbai, who was born in Nijmegen, joined Utrecht on 27 August 2026. The move represents a return to the Netherlands’ second tier after he spent the second half of the 2025-26 season on loan at VVV-Venlo.

That spell began in January, when Sbai left NEC Nijmegen for VVV-Venlo. He returned to NEC at the end of the campaign before securing another temporary move, this time to Utrecht U21.

The right-back came through NEC’s youth system, moving from NEC U21 into the Nijmegen club’s senior team in July 2025. He had previously progressed through NEC U18 and NEC U17, having joined the club’s youth set-up from NEC Youth.

Sbai started his development at DVOL Youth before moving to NEC Youth in 2013. He has represented both the Netherlands and Morocco at nationality level, and is listed as a right-footed defender.

The Nijmegen-born player stands 1.78m tall and operates primarily at right-back. His new club competes in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, while NEC play in the Eredivisie.

Sbai’s NEC contract is scheduled to run until 30 June 2027, matching the end date of his loan at Utrecht U21. The transfer arrangement includes a return to NEC when the loan concludes.

The move gives Sbai another opportunity to continue his club career away from NEC after his previous temporary spell at VVV-Venlo. He has now completed a loan transfer to Utrecht U21.