Al-Ain add Morocco striker Adnane El Ouardy after Al-Dhaid exit

Morocco striker Adnane El Ouardy has joined Al-Ain from Al-Dhaid on a free transfer, adding a 32-year-old centre-forward to the club’s attacking options.

The move was completed on 31 August 2026, following El Ouardy’s single season with Al-Dhaid. He arrived at the club from Jurash FC in July 2025, also on a free transfer, before switching clubs again at the start of the 2026-27 campaign.

El Ouardy is a 1.90m striker who favours his right foot. He was born in Fes and has spent most of his career moving between clubs in Morocco, with spells elsewhere in the region adding to his experience.

His senior career began with Wydad Fes, whom he joined from the club’s reserve side in 2011. He later played for AS FAR Rabat, Difaa El Jadida, Moghreb Tetouan and Rapide Oued Zem before leaving Morocco for Oman Club in 2021.

The forward joined Al-Safa in 2022 and then moved to Al-Jubail the following year. He continued his career in the First Division League with Al-Jeel before joining Jurash FC in January 2025. His move to Al-Dhaid followed six months later.

At Al-Ain, El Ouardy will continue a career that has included a succession of free transfers since his first move abroad. His earlier switch from Wydad Fes to AS FAR Rabat was the only transfer in his recorded career to involve a fee, with AS FAR paying €300,000 in August 2013.

He also spent the 2014-15 season on loan at RS Berkane from AS FAR Rabat before returning to his parent club. Subsequent moves to Difaa El Jadida, Moghreb Tetouan, Rapide Oued Zem, Oman Club, Al-Safa, Al-Jubail, Al-Jeel, Jurash FC and Al-Dhaid were recorded as free transfers or did not carry a stated fee.

El Ouardy’s latest club change takes him from Al-Dhaid to Al-Ain, with the Morocco international completing the free transfer on 31 August 2026.