Morocco’s Anass Zaroury seals Columbus Crew loan move from Panathinaikos

Morocco international Anass Zaroury has joined Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew on loan from Greek club Panathinaikos.

The 25-year-old winger will remain with the American club until the summer of 2027, with Columbus holding an option to make the transfer permanent.

The deal was completed before Major League Soccer’s secondary transfer window closed on Wednesday, with Zaroury expected to join his new team once his visa is issued.

Columbus add Moroccan creativity

Zaroury will occupy one of Columbus Crew’s limited international roster places as the club strengthens its attacking options.

Crew general manager Issa Tall described the Moroccan as “a technical and audacious player who offers additional creativity and experience to our roster.”

The move gives Zaroury a new challenge in North American football after spells in England, France and Greece.

Columbus compete in MLS’s Eastern Conference and are three-time MLS Cup winners, most recently lifting the title in 2023.

Zaroury’s loan will also cover the 2027 MLS Sprint Season, a shortened 14-match competition scheduled between February and April, with the play-offs set for May.

The campaign forms part of MLS’s transition towards a summer-to-spring calendar.

From England to Greece and now America

Zaroury joined Burnley in 2022 and made 49 appearances across three seasons, playing a role in the club’s promotion to the Premier League.

He subsequently spent time on loan at Hull City before joining French side Lens.

The Moroccan later moved to Panathinaikos, initially on loan, before the Greek club made his transfer permanent in May.

Last season, Zaroury made 50 appearances in all competitions for Panathinaikos, scoring eight goals and providing four assists.

One of his standout moments came in September 2025, when he scored a hat-trick against Young Boys in the Europa League.

Opportunity to revive Morocco career

Zaroury has made four appearances for Morocco, with his most recent international cap coming in 2023.

He made his debut against Georgia in 2022 and later featured for 26 minutes in Morocco’s third-place match at the World Cup in Qatar.

The move to Columbus could offer the winger a fresh opportunity to rebuild momentum and push for a return to the Atlas Lions squad.

Zaroury leaves Panathinaikos after the Greek side strengthened their squad with fellow Moroccan internationals Imran Louza, who arrived from Watford in August, and Azzedine Ounahi, whose return was completed this month.

For Zaroury, the switch to Columbus represents another chapter in a career that has already taken him across some of Europe’s major leagues, with the Moroccan now set to test himself in the growing MLS competition.