Achraf El Bouchataoui: Netherlands-Morocco midfielder linked with Omonia Aradippou move

Achraf El Bouchataoui, the Netherlands-Morocco defensive midfielder currently without a club, is being linked with a move to Cypriot side Omonia Aradippou. The 26-year-old is available on a free transfer after leaving Italian club Pro Vercelli at the start of July and is attracting interest as Omonia Aradippou look to strengthen ahead of the new Cyprus League campaign.

El Bouchataoui, born in Rotterdam and standing at 1.79m, is a right-footed holding midfielder whose most extensive senior experience has come in the Dutch second tier. He has made 55 appearances in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, contributing four goals and 12 assists in that competition. That spell in the Netherlands was followed by a move to Serie C with Pro Vercelli, where he featured regularly in the 2025-26 season with 25 league appearances and one goal.

The midfielder’s market value was last assessed at around €300,000, a figure that makes him an accessible option for clubs seeking low-cost additions in central areas. His career has largely been built in and around the Dutch system after progressing through the Feyenoord youth ranks, with loan experience at FC Dordrecht and a stint in Belgium with KMSK Deinze before more recent spells at FC Eindhoven and Pro Vercelli.

El Bouchataoui has also played in the Eredivisie and has featured in the UEFA Youth League during his development years, adding top-level and international youth experience to his profile. For now, he remains a free agent after his contract with Pro Vercelli ended on 1 July 2026, leaving him free to negotiate with Omonia Aradippou and other interested clubs.