Franco-Moroccan defender Zakaria Ariss is being tipped for a move to Turkish side Çaykur Rizespor from French club SC Bastia, with reports putting the probability of a deal at 51%.
The 22-year-old left-back, who holds both Moroccan and French nationality, is currently valued at €2.00m and plays his club football in Ligue 2 with Bastia, where he wears the number 5 shirt. Born in Marseille on 17 June 2004 and standing at 1.78m, Ariss is a left-footed full-back whose versatility in the defensive line has begun to attract interest beyond France.
The potential transfer is being discussed against an uncertain contract situation at Bastia. With no publicly listed expiry date on his current deal, there is already speculation that he could move on relatively cheaply in the medium term or even edge towards free-agent status if an agreement is not formalised.
Rizespor, who compete in the Turkish Süper Lig, are thought to view Ariss as a long-term option at left-back as they look to deepen their squad ahead of the new campaign. His current market valuation of €2.00m on Transfermarkt makes him a comparatively low-cost target in a market where attack-minded full-backs remain in demand.
Ariss, whose main position is left-back but who is listed broadly as a defender, has been developing his game in Ligue 2 with Bastia after coming through the ranks in France. Recent data lists SC Bastia themselves in the “national team” field, underlining that he has yet to break into the senior international scene for either Morocco or France.
Should the move materialise, a first taste of the Süper Lig with Rizespor could represent a significant step up in profile for Ariss and provide a platform to enhance both his reputation and future market value.
