Morocco defender Zakaria El Ouahdi joins Hamburg from Genk

Moroccan international Zakaria El Ouahdi has officially joined German club Hamburg from Belgian side Genk, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his career in the Bundesliga.

The 24-year-old defender has completed his move to the newly promoted German club after successfully passing his medical examination and putting pen to paper on his contract.

El Ouahdi has completed the formalities of the transfer and will wear the number 7 shirt at Hamburg.

The deal is understood to be worth an initial €8 million, with the overall value potentially reaching €12 million if the agreed performance-related bonuses and incentives are achieved.

Genk have also protected their financial interests by securing a percentage of any future transfer fee involving the Moroccan international.

El Ouahdi leaves Genk after an impressive spell with the Belgian club, making 116 appearances across competitions. His performances helped establish him as an important player and earned him greater recognition on the international stage with Morocco.

His move to Hamburg now presents the versatile Moroccan with the opportunity to test himself in Germany’s top flight and continue his development at a higher level.

For Hamburg, the signing adds another international-quality player to their squad as they prepare for the demands of Bundesliga football.

El Ouahdi will be hoping to make an immediate impact in Germany and justify the significant investment made by the club to secure his services.