Benfica have completed the signing of Morocco international left-back Sofyan El Karouani from Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadisiyah on a season-long loan.
The Portuguese side confirmed the deal on the final day of the summer transfer window, bringing the 25-year-old defender to Lisbon as part of their efforts to strengthen their defence.
El Karouani will remain at Benfica until the end of the 2026-27 season. The agreement also includes an option for the Portuguese club to make his move permanent.
The Moroccan defender arrived in the Portuguese capital shortly before the transfer window closed, allowing Benfica to complete the negotiations and secure his services for the new campaign.
Benfica announced the move on their official website, stating: “Sofyan El Karouani strengthens our club’s ranks,” while confirming that the player had joined on loan from Al-Qadisiyah.
The move represents another stage in El Karouani’s career after several seasons in the Netherlands and a brief spell with Al-Qadisiyah.
Speaking after completing the transfer, El Karouani said he was delighted to join a club of Benfica’s stature and described the move as an important moment in his career.
In an interview with Benfica TV, he said: “This means a lot to me, it’s a huge club, one of the biggest in Europe. I can’t help but be happy to be here! From the moment I arrived I felt comfortable and happy. I walked around the city today, it’s beautiful… and now, after seeing the stadium, I feel it’s very special.”
El Karouani’s rise in the Netherlands
Born in Den Bosch in the Netherlands on 19 October 2000, El Karouani began his football development at the TJG Academy before progressing through the youth systems of FC Den Bosch, BVV and Elinkwijk.
He joined NEC Nijmegen in 2017 and eventually made the transition to senior football.
El Karouani was included in Nijmegen’s first-team preparations during pre-season ahead of the 2019-20 campaign. His senior debut came on 9 August 2019 when he was introduced as a substitute in the 68th minute against PSV Eindhoven in the opening round of the Dutch First Division.
His breakthrough came during the 2020-21 season. He established himself as a regular starter, appearing in 41 matches and contributing three goals and seven assists.
His performances helped Nijmegen secure promotion to the higher division. He also featured twice in the Dutch Cup during the campaign, providing one assist.
The defender continued to play an important role over the following two seasons, making 69 appearances and recording three goals and four assists.
Strong spell at Utrecht
In the summer of 2023, El Karouani moved to Utrecht, where he quickly became a regular in the starting line-up.
During his first season with the club, he created four goals in 33 appearances.
His contribution increased during the 2024-25 campaign as Utrecht finished fourth in the Dutch league. El Karouani scored twice and registered nine assists in 36 appearances across competitions.
That fourth-place finish secured Utrecht a place in the Europa League and further raised the defender’s profile.
His final season in the Netherlands produced the strongest statistics of his career to that point.
During the 2025-26 campaign, El Karouani scored four goals and supplied 18 assists in 50 matches across different competitions.
He also ranked among the leading players for average successful crosses per match in both the Dutch league and Dutch Cup.
Morocco international
Despite being born in the Netherlands, El Karouani chose to represent Morocco at international level.
His first appearance for the Moroccan national team came on 9 October 2021, when he entered the match in the 82nd minute of Morocco’s 3-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in a 2022 World Cup qualifying fixture.
His move to Al-Qadisiyah came during the summer, but he left the Saudi Arabian club before making an official appearance.
He will now continue his career in European football with Benfica, where the club have the opportunity to make his move permanent at the end of the loan period.
