Benfica open talks to take Morocco full-back Souffian El Karouani on loan

Benfica are in advanced negotiations with Al-Qadisiya over a loan move for Morocco left-back Souffian El Karouani, according to Portuguese website Mais Futebol.

The 24-year-old joined Al-Qadisiya this summer after leaving FC Utrecht as a free agent, but he now appears unlikely to make an official appearance for the Saudi Pro League club before potentially moving to Portugal.

El Karouani has already featured in an unofficial match for Al-Qadisiya since completing his move from the Netherlands. However, he has yet to play in a competitive fixture for the club.

Mais Futebol reports that Benfica and Al-Qadisiya are discussing an arrangement that would see El Karouani spend the season on loan at the Portuguese club.

The situation is understood to have been created by Al-Qadisiya reaching the maximum number of foreign players permitted in its squad. As a result, El Karouani appears to have been left out of the club’s selection options.

Saudi Pro League regulations allow each club to register a maximum of 10 foreign players. No more than eight of those players can be included in a matchday squad for a league game.

Al-Qadisiya already have several high-profile overseas players under contract, including Tijjani Reijnders, Koen Casteels, Nacho Fernandez, Julian Weigl, Otavio, Matteo Retegui and Julian Quinones.

Benfica are therefore seeking to provide El Karouani with a route out of the difficult situation by taking him on loan. If the move is completed, the Morocco international would compete with Samuel Dahl for the starting left-back position.

El Karouani joined FC Utrecht from NEC Nijmegen in 2022 and established himself as a regular option at left-back during his time in the Netherlands. His move to Al-Qadisiya was expected to mark the next stage of his career, but the club’s foreign-player limit has quickly put his immediate future in doubt.

The proposed switch to Benfica would give him the opportunity to continue his development while remaining active in competitive football. For Al-Qadisiya, it would also provide a way to manage their squad after reaching the Saudi Pro League’s overseas-player limit.

At this stage, the move remains subject to an agreement between the two clubs. However, negotiations are described as advanced, with Benfica considering El Karouani as competition for Dahl on the left side of defence.