Metalul Buzau sign French-Moroccan midfielder Ilyas El Khabchi from Yverdon FC II

French-Moroccan attacking midfielder Ilyas El Khabchi has joined Romanian Liga 2 club Metalul Buzau from Yverdon FC II.

The 28-year-old completed the move on 14 September 2026, switching from the Swiss side’s reserve team to Metalul Buzau. No transfer fee has been disclosed.

El Khabchi operates primarily in attacking midfield and is left-footed. Born in Villeurbanne, France, he stands 1.74m tall and brings experience of football in France, Morocco and Switzerland to his latest club.

He recorded 20 appearances in the 2. Liga Inter Grupa 1, scoring seven goals and providing 13 assists. That return included 1,679 minutes of action and represents the most productive statistical campaign recorded in his senior career.

Before moving to Romania, El Khabchi spent the 2025-26 season with Yverdon FC II, having joined the Swiss club from Moroccan side COD Meknes on a free transfer on 4 September 2025. His time at COD Meknes followed another free transfer, from Abu Salim, in August 2024.

The midfielder previously played in Morocco for Abu Salim, Olympique Khouribga and CR Bernoussi. He also featured in France for Canet Roussillon, Jura Dolois and Thonon Evian, while an earlier spell was recorded with Nottingham’s under-23 side and El Gaish U23.

His career record includes appearances in the Botola Pro Inwi, Morocco’s Coupe du Trone, the CAF Confederation Cup and the Coupe de France, as well as matches in France’s National 2 and National 3 competitions. In National 3, he scored six goals and supplied two assists in 21 appearances.

El Khabchi’s arrival gives Metalul Buzau an attacking midfield option with experience across several domestic competitions and a recent record of creating goals as well as scoring them. The move also marks his latest step after a season in Switzerland and a series of previous free transfers between clubs in France and Morocco.

Metalul Buzau have completed the signing of El Khabchi, who now continues his career in Romania’s Liga 2.