Morocco midfielder Azzedine Ounahi commits to Panathinaikos until 2030 after €15m move

Azzedine Ounahi has completed a permanent return to Panathinaikos after the Athens club agreed a €15m deal with Girona for the Morocco international.

The 26-year-old midfielder previously spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Panathinaikos while contracted to Olympique de Marseille. His performances during that spell helped secure a longer-term move, with Ounahi now signing a contract that will keep him in Greece until 2030.

The transfer fee will be paid directly to Girona, Ounahi’s most recent club. However, Olympique de Marseille will also benefit financially from the agreement because of a clause included in the player’s original transfer to the Spanish side.

When Marseille sold Ounahi to Girona, the French club negotiated a 30% share of any profit Girona made from a future resale. As a result, Marseille are expected to receive approximately €2.7m from the Panathinaikos transfer.

Ounahi’s return comes after a summer in which he attracted interest from several prominent European clubs. Ajax, PSV, FC Barcelona, Atletico de Madrid and Real Betis were all monitoring the situation of the former Angers player, according to exclusive information reported by Africafoot.

Despite that interest, the Casablanca-born midfielder opted to continue his career with Panathinaikos. He is currently valued at €18m and made a significant contribution during his first spell with the Greek club.

Across 37 appearances in all competitions for Panathinaikos, Ounahi scored five goals and provided seven assists. His performances persuaded the Athens side to make the move permanent, ending his brief association with Girona.

Ounahi began his senior career in France before establishing himself as a Morocco international. His progress at Angers led to a move to Olympique de Marseille, while his performances for Morocco increased his profile across Europe.

The midfielder’s latest transfer means Panathinaikos have secured a player who is already familiar with the club and its surroundings. It also gives Ounahi the opportunity to build on a productive first season in Greece rather than join one of the other clubs that had followed his situation.

Meanwhile, Girona are preparing for their fourth-round LaLiga 2 fixture against Sporting Gijon. Betting company 1xBet listed Girona as 2.15 favourites for the match, with a draw priced at 3.05 and a Sporting Gijon victory at 2.70.

Ounahi’s move therefore provides Girona with a substantial transfer fee, while Marseille benefit from the resale agreement they put in place when allowing the Morocco international to leave for Spain. For Panathinaikos, the deal secures the permanent services of a midfielder who produced five goals and seven assists in his previous 37 appearances for the club.