Wydad Casablanca have confirmed the departure of Moroccan international defender Jamal Harkass to Saudi Pro League side Damac FC, ending his two-year spell with the Botola Pro giants.
The 29-year-old, capped four times for Morocco, had been out of coach Mohamed Amine Benhachem’s plans since the club’s early exit from the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this year.
Sources close to Wydad revealed that the decision to part ways had been reached weeks ago, with Harkass subsequently placed on the transfer list.
Damac FC secured his signature for a reported fee of six million dirhams (around €550,000), with the player opting for the Saudi Arabian project over other offers.
German club Hannover 96, competing in Bundesliga 2, were among those to make a concrete bid, but the financial and sporting terms proposed by Damac proved decisive in sealing the deal.
Born in Figuig, in Morocco’s eastern region, Harkass is set to embark on his first professional adventure abroad after an entire career spent in the domestic league.
A product of Mouloudia d’Oujda’s youth academy, he later played for Raja Casablanca before joining Wydad in 2022. Standing out for his aerial dominance, strength in duels and composure in defence, the centre-back will now look to establish himself as a key figure in Damac’s backline.
At the Saudi club, he could partner Algerian international Abdelkader Bedrane in central defence, potentially forming a North African pairing at the heart of the team.
Bedrane, a former Espérance Tunis player, has been a mainstay at Damac for the past three seasons and his experience could help ease Harkass’s adaptation to the Saudi Pro League.
Internationally, Harkass has been on the fringes of Walid Regragui’s Morocco squad. He scored once during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and last featured in the national team’s emphatic 7-0 victory over Lesotho in November 2024. However, he was not selected for the March 2025 fixture against Niger.
With the 2025 AFCON set to be hosted by Morocco in January, his move to a league considered more competitive than the Botola could boost his chances of earning a recall.
Consistent playing time in Saudi Arabia may strengthen his case for inclusion in the final squad, particularly as Regragui continues to assess defensive options.
Harkass’s transfer closes a significant chapter in his career, marking the end of his domestic journey in Morocco and opening the door to new challenges abroad.
For Damac, his arrival represents both an experienced defensive addition and a potential leadership presence in the dressing room.
For the player, it is an opportunity to showcase his abilities on a new stage and keep alive his hopes of representing his country at a major tournament on home soil.
C’est désormais officiel ✅
Harkass rejoint l’Arabie Saoudite et le club de Damas FC ! pic.twitter.com/jZJDKyWLkm
— SOCCER212 (@SCCR_212) August 12, 2025
