Souffian El Karouani joins Al Qadsiah after leaving Utrecht

Moroccan international Souffian El Karouani has brought his time in Dutch football to an end after completing a free transfer from FC Utrecht to Saudi Arabian side Al Qadsiah, where he has signed a contract running until the summer of 2029.

The Saudi club confirmed the arrival of the 25-year-old left-back through its official channels, securing the services of a player who enjoyed one of the most productive campaigns of his career during the 2025-26 season.

El Karouani departs Utrecht after a standout year in which he played a key role for the Eredivisie club. The Moroccan defender contributed four goals and an impressive 18 assists in 50 appearances across all competitions, underlining his influence from the left side of the pitch.

His move to Saudi Arabia comes after several transfer links failed to develop into completed deals. During the winter transfer window, both Olympique de Marseille and West Ham United were reported to have shown interest in signing the defender, but neither club succeeded in securing his services.

Before that, a proposed transfer to Spartak Moscow also collapsed. According to reports, Utrecht declined to reach an agreement with the Russian club, preventing the move from progressing further.

The transfer to Al Qadsiah represents the first move abroad of El Karouani’s professional career. Born in the Netherlands, the defender began his football journey in the youth ranks of Elinkwijk before earning a move to NEC Nijmegen.

He went on to establish himself at NEC, making 114 appearances for the club and developing into one of the Eredivisie’s reliable left-backs.

His performances eventually earned him a free-transfer switch to FC Utrecht in 2023, where he continued to strengthen his reputation.

At international level, El Karouani has represented Morocco six times, adding international experience to his club achievements.

His arrival at Al Qadsiah will see him join a squad that already includes notable names such as Nacho Fernández and Matteo Retegui, as the Saudi club continues to strengthen its ranks ahead of the coming seasons.

After several years in Dutch football, El Karouani now embarks on a new challenge in Saudi Arabia, with Al Qadsiah securing the Moroccan defender on a long-term deal that will keep him at the club until 2029.