NEC Nijmegen have officially secured the signing of Moroccan forward Youssef El Kachati, following weeks of speculation surrounding his future.
The 25-year-old arrives from Dutch second-tier side Telstar and has committed to NEC on a contract running through to the summer of 2028.
The Eredivisie club announced the deal on Thursday, confirming the striker’s long-anticipated step up to top-flight football.
El Kachati’s move marks a significant milestone in his career, having spent recent years climbing steadily through the ranks of Dutch football.
A product of the Sparta Rotterdam youth academy, he made 11 senior appearances for the Rotterdam-based side early in his career.
His journey since then has seen him take on key roles at clubs such as VV Noordwijk, Belgian outfit KVC Westerlo, and the Quick Boys before landing at Telstar.
It was with Telstar that El Kachati truly found his scoring form. Last season, he netted 19 goals in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, emerging as one of the league’s most consistent attacking threats.
His prolific output played a vital role in Telstar’s late-season surge and their impressive run in the promotion play-offs — a campaign that ultimately led to NEC moving swiftly to secure his services.
In addition to his goal tally, El Kachati drew praise for his work rate, positional intelligence, and ability to link up effectively with teammates in the final third.
NEC’s coaching staff are said to have been closely monitoring his progress for some time, and see him as a player ready to make the leap to Eredivisie competition.
The transfer reflects NEC’s broader strategy of investing in proven domestic talents with room to grow.
El Kachati’s versatility and experience across different tiers of European football are seen as assets that can help bolster the squad’s attacking options for the upcoming season.
The Moroccan forward now joins a club that finished strongly in the Eredivisie last term and is looking to build momentum with an eye on European qualification.
NEC have made it clear they believe El Kachati can contribute immediately at the highest level.
Club representatives expressed their satisfaction at getting the deal over the line, emphasizing the value El Kachati brings not only through his goal-scoring abilities but also his hunger to prove himself at the top level.
For El Kachati, this transfer represents both a reward for his perseverance and a fresh challenge. After years of development in the lower divisions, he now has the opportunity to showcase his talents on one of Dutch football’s biggest stages.
With his future settled until mid-2028, all eyes will be on how he adapts to life in Nijmegen and how quickly he can replicate his Telstar form in the Eredivisie.
NEC fans will be hoping the new arrival can hit the ground running when the league resumes later this summer.
