Morocco’s best goalscorers keep moving abroad – what Benjdida’s transfer means

Soufiane Benjdida has become the latest Botola Pro Golden Boot winner to leave Morocco football, completing a move from newly crowned champions Maghreb Fes to Egyptian giants Al Ahly just weeks after finishing as the league’s top scorer.

The 24-year-old’s departure continues a striking trend in Morocco’s top flight, with six consecutive Golden Boot winners leaving the Botola Pro immediately after claiming the league’s leading scorer award.

Another prolific striker heads abroad

Benjdida enjoyed a memorable campaign, scoring 20 league goals to fire Maghreb Fes to their first Moroccan league title in 41 years.

His performances attracted interest beyond Morocco and ultimately earned him a transfer to Al Ahly, extending a pattern that has become increasingly familiar in the Botola Pro.

Wydad Athletic Club forward Ayoub El Kaabi left the league after finishing as the 2020-21 top scorer with 18 goals. A year later, DR Congo striker Guy Mbenza also departed after winning the Golden Boot with 16 goals.

The trend continued when Boli Sambou Junior secured a move from Wydad to Turkish side Konyaspor after ending the 2022-23 season as the league’s leading scorer with 13 goals.

Raja Casablanca’s Yousri Bouzok followed by joining Saudi Arabian side Al Wehda after scoring 14 league goals in 2023-24, while Hussein Rahimi left Raja for UAE club Al Ain after topping the scoring charts in the 2024-25 campaign.

Financial reality behind the exodus

The repeated departures reflect the financial challenges facing Moroccan clubs, many of which struggle to compete with the salaries and transfer offers available in Egypt, the Gulf region and Europe.

For clubs, selling their leading goalscorers at the height of their market value has become an important source of revenue and a practical way to maintain financial stability.

For players, lucrative contracts and opportunities to advance their careers often make overseas moves difficult to turn down.

Benjdida transfer raises fresh questions

Benjdida’s transfer has generated additional discussion because Maghreb Fes had reportedly hoped the striker would continue his career in Europe, believing it would offer the best environment for his long-term development.

The move has also attracted attention because Maghreb Fes are set to compete in next season’s CAF Champions League, while Al Ahly will feature in the CAF Confederation Cup.

His departure has renewed debate over the future of the Botola Pro, with many viewing Morocco’s top division as a stepping stone for emerging talent rather than a league capable of retaining its biggest stars.

Although the Botola Pro continues to produce some of Africa’s finest attacking players, the regular loss of its leading goalscorers raises fresh concerns about the league’s ability to keep its top talent and strengthen its competitiveness in the years ahead.