FC Utrecht defender Souffian El Karouani is being linked with a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah, with the Moroccan-Dutch left-back reportedly on the radar of the Dammam club.
The 25-year-old, valued at €15.00m on Transfermarkt, is currently contracted to Utrecht in the Eredivisie but his deal has no publicly listed expiry date, leaving room for speculation over whether he could eventually leave as a free agent if no agreement is reached. The probability of a transfer to Al-Qadsiah is currently marked as “?” in the latest data, underlining that talks, if any, remain at an early or uncertain stage.
El Karouani, who was born in Den Bosch on 19 October 2000 and stands at 1.78m, operates primarily as a left-back and is left-footed. He holds dual nationality with Morocco and the Netherlands, adding to his appeal in a market where Saudi clubs have increasingly targeted players with international pedigree and technical profiles suited to attack-minded full-backs.
He is listed as wearing the number 16 shirt at Utrecht and is part of a squad competing in the Dutch top flight, a league that has become a recognised springboard to bigger contracts and new challenges abroad. The rumoured switch would see him swap the Eredivisie for the Saudi Pro League, where Al-Qadsiah are looking to bolster their defensive options.
No fee has been disclosed and there are no indications yet of concrete negotiations or advanced talks, but El Karouani’s current valuation and age profile suggest Utrecht could command a significant sum were they to sanction a sale.
If the move were to materialise, a transfer to Al-Qadsiah could mark a pivotal step in El Karouani’s career, offering a new platform in a rapidly developing league and potentially reshaping both his reputation and market value in the years ahead.
