PSV teenager Amir Bouhamdi leans towards Morocco after Netherlands pursuit

Amir Bouhamdi is reported to have chosen Morocco over the Netherlands, despite efforts from the Dutch Football Association and former Barcelona manager Xavi to persuade the PSV Eindhoven teenager to remain available for the Oranje.

The decision has not yet been officially confirmed. However, accountFRMF Xtra, which is generally well informed about Morocco’s national teams, reports that Bouhamdi has notified the Moroccan Football Federation of his choice.

The 18-year-old is regarded as one of PSV’s most promising young players. His reported decision would represent an important development in the increasingly competitive battle between Morocco and the Netherlands for players eligible to represent both countries.

Bouhamdi joined PSV in 2017 from Roda JC and has progressed through the club’s age-group teams. The left winger has since moved into Jong PSV and begun to come into consideration around the senior squad.

PSV have also shown their confidence in his potential by extending his contract until 2031. Bouhamdi underlined his growing influence recently by providing two assists in a 6-1 victory at Utrecht.

The Netherlands are understood not to have given up their efforts to convince him, while the Moroccan Football Federation has also increased its activity in recent days. The balance is now reported to have shifted decisively towards Morocco.

Should the move be confirmed, it would be more than a personal boost for Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi. It would also provide another indication of the changing dynamics surrounding Dutch-Moroccan footballers.

The Moroccan community in the Netherlands is one of the kingdom’s largest diasporas in Europe. For many years, leading players with Dutch and Moroccan backgrounds generally opted to represent the Netherlands.

That balance began to change with the emergence of players such as Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui. A new generation has since shown an increasing willingness to commit to Morocco at an early stage of their careers.

Morocco’s victory over the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup could further strengthen that trend. As well as securing an important result, beating the Oranje directly on football’s biggest international stage is likely to have enhanced the image of the Atlas Lions among young players eligible for both nations.

It would still be too early to say that Morocco has secured a lasting advantage in the competition for dual nationals. The Netherlands remain a prestigious international side with a world-leading football development system and will continue to compete strongly for their most talented players.

The significant change, however, is that Morocco is no longer viewed as a fallback option by young footballers with links to both countries.

The Moroccan Football Federation has spent several years developing its early monitoring of dual-national players, particularly in the Netherlands. The progress of youngsters such as Abdellah Ouazane has already provided evidence that the approach can be effective.

Bouhamdi could now become another success in that strategy. His reported choice would add to Morocco’s momentum, while also highlighting a broader contest over which national team can attract the best talent from the Dutch-Moroccan community over the next decade.

For now, the move remains awaiting formal confirmation. But if Bouhamdi’s reported decision is finalised, Morocco will have secured another highly rated PSV prospect after seeing its efforts prevail over renewed Dutch interest.