Benfica bring in Moroccan-Dutch full-back Souffian El Karouani from Al-Qadsiah

Moroccan-Dutch left-back Souffian El Karouani has joined Benfica from Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah on a season-long loan.

The 25-year-old switches to the Portuguese side on 1 September 2026, with the agreement running until 30 June 2027. El Karouani will wear Benfica’s number 34 shirt and becomes part of a squad competing in Liga Portugal.

El Karouani moved to Al-Qadsiah from Utrecht on 22 July, joining the Saudi club on a free transfer. His stay there lasted just over a month before the defender made the next move in his career.

He had not made an appearance for Al-Qadsiah in either the Saudi Pro League or the King’s Cup during the opening weeks of the 2026-27 season. His switch to Benfica therefore represents a rapid change of league and club after arriving in Saudi Arabia from the Netherlands.

Born in Den Bosch in the Netherlands, El Karouani developed domestically before establishing himself at senior level with NEC Nijmegen. He joined Utrecht from NEC in July 2023, also on a free transfer, and remained with the club until his move to Al-Qadsiah.

A left-footed defender whose primary position is left-back, El Karouani is listed at 1.78 metres. His move to Benfica takes him from the Saudi Pro League to Portugal’s top flight, adding a player with experience of Dutch football to the club’s defensive options.

El Karouani’s earlier senior career began at NEC Nijmegen after he progressed from the club’s under-19 side. Before that, he had been with Elinkwijk’s youth set-up. His route from Dutch football to Saudi Arabia and now Portugal has included three club changes since the start of the 2023-24 season.

The loan arrangement places El Karouani at Benfica for the 2026-27 campaign, after which he is scheduled to return to Al-Qadsiah. He has joined the Portuguese club without a permanent transfer fee being recorded.

The completed move sees El Karouani leave Al-Qadsiah for Benfica on loan until 30 June 2027.