Belgian-Moroccan centre-back Ismael Baouf of SC Cambuur is being linked with a move to LaLiga side Rayo Vallecano as the Spanish club assess defensive options for the new season.
Rayo are understood to be tracking the 19-year-old, who has emerged as a regular at centre-back for Cambuur after joining the Dutch club in August 2025. Baouf is under contract until June 2028, a situation that is expected to give the Eredivisie outfit a strong negotiating position if formal talks begin.
Baouf, born in Charleroi and eligible for both Morocco and Belgium, has built up senior experience in the Netherlands’ second tier with Cambuur, where he has operated as a right-footed central defender. His performances have seen his valuation rise to around €3 million, a figure that provides an early reference point for any potential bid.
Before moving to the Netherlands, Baouf progressed through the youth ranks at Charleroi and Anderlecht, stepping up from Anderlecht’s under-18s to the club’s second team, RSCA Futures, in 2023. That pathway has given him competitive minutes in Belgium’s Challenger Pro League and opened the door to his switch abroad.
Rayo, who are looking within Europe’s smaller markets for additions, have identified Baouf’s age profile, contract status and experience across Belgian and Dutch football as fitting their current recruitment focus. Cambuur, meanwhile, face the prospect of interest in one of their most marketable assets with two years still remaining on his deal.
