Souffian El Karouani is being linked with a move from FC Utrecht to West Ham United, with the Premier League club reportedly monitoring the left-back’s situation in the Eredivisie.
The 25-year-old defender, who represents both Morocco and the Netherlands at national level, is the subject of transfer speculation on the back of a rapid rise in his estimated market value, now listed at €15.00m. The move is currently characterised as a rumour, with the probability of it happening marked as uncertain (“?”) and no agreement reported between the clubs.
El Karouani is contracted to Utrecht, but available data does not specify an expiry date, leaving open the possibility that his situation could evolve towards a free-agent scenario if no new deal is in place. That uncertainty, combined with his form in the Dutch top flight, is thought to be drawing interest from abroad, with West Ham linked as a potential destination in the Premier League.
Born in Den Bosch on 19 October 2000, the 1.78m left-footer came through the youth ranks at USV Elinkwijk before stepping up to NEC Nijmegen’s under-19 side and then their senior team in 2019. A move to Utrecht followed in 2023, and his market value has climbed sharply since, rising from under €1m at NEC to €12m and then €15m during his time at Utrecht as of December 2025.
Primarily a defender at left-back, El Karouani’s development in the Eredivisie has made him one of Utrecht’s most valuable assets domestically. With West Ham credited with interest but no formal breakthrough reported, any prospective transfer would mark his first move outside the Netherlands and a significant step into one of Europe’s most high-profile leagues.
Should a deal eventually materialise, the switch to London could define the next phase of El Karouani’s career, offering a platform to enhance his reputation and test his potential at Premier League level.
