UM-Damansara bring in Moroccan-Italian centre-back Taoufiq Hannioui

Moroccan-Italian defender Taoufiq Hannioui has joined UM-Damansara from Al-Hamra on a free transfer, moving to the A1 Semi-Pro League club on 27 August 2026.

The 25-year-old centre-back becomes the latest player to switch clubs after a season with Al-Hamra in the United Arab Emirates’ First Division League. Hannioui’s move ends his spell with the Emirati side, whom he joined from Swedish club Assyriska FF in July 2025, also as a free agent.

Hannioui is a right-footed defender who stands 1.89m tall. He holds Moroccan and Italian nationality and has spent much of his career moving between clubs in Europe and the Middle East before making the latest change in his career.

His first recorded senior move came in July 2018, when he left Piacenza’s under-19 side for Como. A year later, he moved from Como to Cypriot club PO Ormidias, beginning a period that also included a return to the same club after a spell with Chalkanoras.

Hannioui joined Chalkanoras from PO Ormidias in July 2020 and then returned to PO Ormidias in July 2021. He remained there until March 2023, when he moved to Assyriska FF. His transfer to Al-Hamra followed more than two years later.

The switch to UM-Damansara is the latest free transfer in Hannioui’s career and gives the club a defender with experience across several different football environments. His arrival also marks a move from the First Division League to the A1 Semi-Pro League.

Hannioui has now completed his transfer from Al-Hamra to UM-Damansara, with the move recorded on 27 August 2026.