Football

El Karouani joins Benfica on loan

The Moroccan full-back arrives at Benfica from Al Qadisiyah, with an option to buy.

1 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: El Karouani joins Benfica on loan — Archive photoPhoto: Abdelali Bentarki · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

Benfica has officially confirmed the signing of El Karouani, the Moroccan full-back, on loan from Al Qadisiyah. This move includes a purchase option for the club after the loan period.

El Karouani moved to Saudi Arabia this summer, but, according to reports from Observador, he was unable to establish himself in the Al Qadisiyah team, which led to his departure for Benfica.

The player previously stood out at European clubs, notably at NEC, where he had an impressive performance, and at Utrecht, where he established himself as an important playmaker. These skills are expected to benefit the Benfica team.

The deal has been officially completed, and the arrival of the full-back is seen as an addition to the squad, given his demonstrated potential in previous seasons, despite not having much space this past year in Saudi Arabia.

Following the confirmation of the loan, El Karouani is among the most anticipated signings, with the expectation to bring dynamism to the team's offensive play.

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