Adam Aznou’s Malaga loan gives Morocco defender chance to revive stalled career

Adam Aznou has joined Malaga on a season-long loan from Everton as he attempts to rebuild his club career and persuade Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi that he should return to the national team ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 20-year-old left-back is moving to a new project in La Liga after a period in which his progress has been slowed by repeated changes of club and a lack of regular first-team football. The move represents an important sporting decision for a player once regarded as one of the brightest defensive prospects of his generation.

Aznou came through the academy at FC Barcelona before moving to Bayern Munich, where his development attracted significant attention. His early involvement with Morocco in 2024 appeared to put him on course for a long-term role with the Atlas Lions.

However, the Spain-born defender has not been able to establish himself consistently at either club or international level. His move from Bayern Munich to Everton was also intended to provide more opportunities, but it did not deliver the expected breakthrough.

Last season underlined the scale of the problem. Aznou found himself in a difficult position at Everton and did not play a single minute. His temporary switch to Malaga is therefore designed to restore the essentials missing from his game: starts, match fitness and continuity.

The circumstances at Malaga could offer him a favourable platform. The club, promoted to La Liga this season, wanted to strengthen the left side of its team with a player capable of adding pace and technical quality.

Aznou can operate as a conventional left-back, a wing-back or further forward. That flexibility gives him an advantage, although it will not by itself secure a return to the Morocco squad. He must improve his defensive discipline and show that he can maintain his level across a sustained run of matches.

His standing has also changed. Aznou no longer has the status of a young prodigy whose place is expected to be protected. Ouahbi has several options on the left, including Noussair Mazraoui, who can play on either flank, Anass Salah-Eddine and Youssef Belammari.

Competition for the position has become increasingly intense within the Morocco manager’s plans. Ouahbi is already familiar with Aznou’s qualities because the player has previously been part of the national-team group, but regular club football and defensive reliability are likely to carry greater weight when selections are made.

A full season in Spain could put Aznou back into contention and allow him to become a permanent part of Ouahbi’s plans again. Another campaign spent mainly as a substitute, however, would make his route back to the Morocco team considerably more difficult.