Anass Salah-Eddine poised to join Olympiacos after Roma struggles

Anass Salah-Eddine is close to leaving AS Roma for Olympiacos, with negotiations between the two clubs and the Morocco international now at an advanced stage.

The 24-year-old left-back is expected to continue his career away from Italy after a more encouraging loan spell at PSV Eindhoven, although he is set to remain in the Mediterranean region.

According to d360 Sport, Salah-Eddine has already given his initial approval to a move to the Greek club, where he would join international team-mate Ayoub El Kaabi.

Olympiacos are waiting to complete the transfer of Argentine full-back Francisco Ortega to River Plate before finalising Salah-Eddine’s arrival. The Greek club could also delay the official announcement until after PSV’s European fixture against Nijmegen.

Salah-Eddine has spoken to Olympiacos manager Jose Luis Mendilibar and El Kaabi about the club’s sporting plans and the role he would be expected to play. Those conversations are understood to have persuaded the Morocco defender to accept the proposal in principle.

The move would give Salah-Eddine an opportunity to rebuild his career after failing to establish himself at AS Roma. The Amsterdam-born player came through the Ajax academy before making his breakthrough at FC Twente. He moved to AS Roma in January 2025 for a fee of about €8.5m.

His time in the Italian capital never developed as hoped. After making limited appearances, he joined PSV Eindhoven on loan and produced more impressive performances, playing 25 matches and helping the Dutch club win the Eredivisie title last season.

PSV had an option to sign him permanently, reportedly worth €8m, and wanted to keep the defender. Salah-Eddine instead chose to return to AS Roma in an attempt to secure another opportunity there.

That prospect now appears unlikely. Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini is reported to favour other options in the wide areas, including more explosive players such as Brazilian Wesley Franca. Salah-Eddine is therefore understood to have accepted that regular first-team football would be difficult to obtain.

A move to Olympiacos could also prove significant for his international prospects. Salah-Eddine has won 12 caps for Morocco and remains part of Mohamed Ouahbi’s plans. The coach regards him as the main alternative to Noussair Mazraoui on the left side of the defence.

His natural left-footedness gives Morocco a different option behind Mazraoui, who is generally used on the left in a “faux pied” role. Salah-Eddine was selected for the 2026 World Cup, ahead of players including Souffian El Karouani.

At Olympiacos, he would reunite with El Kaabi, who has become one of the club’s leading attacking figures during the past three seasons despite recently losing his place in the Morocco squad.

After an unproductive spell in Rome, Greece could offer Salah-Eddine the regular playing time and stability needed to put his career back on a firm footing.