Zakaria El Ouahdi: Morocco-Belgium right-back at Genk linked with Bayer Leverkusen move

Zakaria El Ouahdi, the Morocco-Belgium right-back currently at Genk, is being linked with a move to Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen as the German club assess options at full-back this summer.

Leverkusen are monitoring the 24-year-old after his rapid rise in Belgium, where he has become a key figure for Genk since joining from RWD Molenbeek in September 2023. Genk paid €2.5 million to secure his services then, and his market value has since climbed to €17 million, underlining the scale of investment that would now likely be required to prise him away.

El Ouahdi is under contract at Genk until 30 June 2028, putting the Belgian side in a strong negotiating position and removing any immediate pressure to sell. He has been used primarily at right-back and has also built a reputation for contributing in the final third, scoring 10 goals and providing five assists in 69 Jupiler Pro League appearances.

His performances at club level have coincided with progress on the international stage. Born in Hoboken and eligible for both Morocco and Belgium, he has represented Morocco’s youth sides and was part of the team that won the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations in 2023. He has also featured at the 2026 World Cup, appearing off the bench for Morocco.

Genk signed El Ouahdi as a relatively low-cost arrival from the Belgian second tier, where he helped RWD Molenbeek win promotion in 2022–23, and are now facing interest from one of Europe’s most sought-after destinations for emerging talent, with his long-term deal likely to be a central factor in any negotiations.