Souffian El Karouani is set to continue his career in the Saudi Pro League after reaching a final agreement to join Al Qadsiah FC from FC Utrecht.
The 25-year-old Moroccan left-back will move to Saudi Arabia on a free transfer once his contract with Utrecht expires this summer, bringing an end to a successful spell in the Eredivisie.
Reports indicate that Al Qadsiah have completed the necessary procedures to finalise the transfer, with the Saudi club reportedly beating competition from teams in England and Turkey for his signature.
The move is also expected to significantly improve the defender’s earnings. According to reports from Actu Foot Maroc, El Karouani’s salary will rise dramatically to around €3m per year — approximately 17 times more than his current earnings in the Netherlands.
At Al Qadsiah, El Karouani is expected to work under coach Brendan Rodgers, whose managerial career has included spells with Liverpool FC and Leicester City FC.
The Saudi side are currently fourth in the league standings and continue to strengthen their squad as the league’s growing financial power attracts more players from European football.
El Karouani leaves Utrecht after establishing himself as one of the Eredivisie’s most effective attacking full-backs. Since joining the club in 2023, the Nijmegen-born defender made 113 appearances and became an influential figure on the left side of defence.
His performances during the current campaign further enhanced his reputation, with the Moroccan international contributing 13 goals across 32 matches through a combination of goals and assists.
Known for his attacking runs, crossing ability and consistency, El Karouani developed into one of Utrecht’s standout performers despite operating primarily as a defender.
The transfer now marks a major step in the next phase of his career as he prepares to leave Dutch football for a new challenge in Saudi Arabia.
