Benfica have officially announced the signing of Souffian El Karouani, with the Moroccan international becoming the latest addition to the Portuguese giants’ squad.
The 25-year-old left-back joins Benfica from Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadisiyah on loan until the end of the 2026/27 season, with Benfica holding an option to make the transfer permanent.
The announcement was made through Benfica’s official social-media channels, where the club welcomed the defender with the message: “Welcome, El Karouani.”
The Moroccan defender is also pictured wearing Benfica’s famous red shirt, with the number 34 displayed alongside his name.
The move brings an exciting new chapter to El Karouani’s career after a highly productive spell in the Netherlands with FC Utrecht.
His arrival at the Estádio da Luz gives Benfica another option at left-back while also adding a player who has demonstrated an impressive ability to contribute in attack.
Benfica Confirm El Karouani Transfer
After days of transfer speculation, Benfica have now officially confirmed that Souffian El Karouani is their latest signing.
The Portuguese club reached an agreement with Al-Qadisiyah for the Moroccan defender to spend the 2026/27 campaign at Benfica on loan.
The agreement also includes an option for Benfica to sign the player permanently at the end of the loan period.
El Karouani has already completed the necessary medical examinations and formalities before being presented as a Benfica player.
The club subsequently published photographs of the defender wearing the famous red Benfica shirt.
The announcement immediately attracted significant attention from supporters, with thousands of fans reacting to the club’s post.
The image used by Benfica shows El Karouani standing proudly in the club’s shirt, with the famous Estádio da Luz atmosphere visible in the background.
It is the beginning of what could become a very important period in the player’s career.
Who Is Souffian El Karouani?
Souffian El Karouani is a Moroccan international left-back who was born in the Netherlands.
Born on October 19, 2000, in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, he developed his football career in the Dutch system before eventually becoming an important player at FC Utrecht.
Although born in the Netherlands, El Karouani has Moroccan heritage and chose to represent Morocco at international level.
His football development was heavily influenced by Dutch football, which is known for technical quality, possession-based football and the importance of attacking full-backs.
Those characteristics can be seen in El Karouani’s style.
He is not the type of defender who simply stays deep and focuses exclusively on stopping opposing attackers.
Instead, he likes to move forward, participate in attacks, deliver crosses and create chances for his teammates.
That attacking contribution is one of the major reasons Benfica decided to bring him to Portugal.
El Karouani’s Football Journey
The road to Benfica has been a long one for El Karouani.
Before reaching the professional level, he developed through several youth clubs in the Netherlands.
He eventually joined NEC Nijmegen, where his professional career began to take shape.
His breakthrough came during his time with NEC, where he gradually established himself as a reliable option at left-back.
Rather than becoming an overnight sensation, El Karouani built his reputation step by step.
He gained experience.
He played regularly.
He improved his defensive game.
And, importantly, he developed his attacking abilities.
Those qualities eventually attracted the attention of FC Utrecht.
The NEC Nijmegen Years
El Karouani’s time at NEC Nijmegen was an important part of his development.
The defender made his professional debut for NEC in August 2019 against FC Eindhoven.
He continued to develop during the following seasons and became increasingly important to the team.
The 2020/21 campaign was particularly significant.
El Karouani made 41 appearances, scoring three goals and providing seven assists.
NEC also achieved promotion during that campaign.
For the young left-back, it was an important moment.
He was no longer simply a promising academy player.
He had become a genuine professional capable of playing a significant role for his team.
The Move to FC Utrecht
In 2023, El Karouani took another important step in his career by joining FC Utrecht.
The transfer represented an opportunity to compete at a higher level and test himself against stronger opposition.
He quickly established himself as an important member of Utrecht’s squad.
During the 2023/24 season, he made 33 appearances and recorded four assists.
However, it was the following season when his attacking numbers became even more impressive.
A Breakthrough Season at Utrecht
The 2024/25 campaign was a major step forward.
El Karouani made 36 appearances, scored two goals and provided nine assists.
Utrecht finished fourth in the Eredivisie, earning qualification for the Europa League.
The numbers demonstrated that El Karouani was developing into much more than a conventional left-back.
Nine assists from a defender is a significant contribution.
His ability to deliver dangerous balls into the penalty area became one of his most important weapons.
His performances also increased his profile outside the Netherlands.
Clubs began paying closer attention.
And Benfica eventually became one of those clubs.
2025/26: The Season That Put El Karouani on the Map
If the 2024/25 season showed El Karouani’s potential, the 2025/26 campaign demonstrated just how effective he could become.
The Moroccan enjoyed the best statistical season of his career.
Across all competitions, he played 50 matches, scored four goals and registered an extraordinary 18 assists.
Those numbers immediately stand out.
For a left-back to contribute 18 assists in a single season is remarkable.
It shows that El Karouani was heavily involved in Utrecht’s attacking play.
He was creating opportunities.
He was delivering dangerous crosses.
He was helping his teammates score.
And he was regularly getting into advanced positions.
Benfica’s interest therefore makes considerable sense.
Why Benfica Wanted El Karouani
The modern full-back has become an increasingly important position.
A left-back is no longer expected simply to defend.
Top clubs want their full-backs to contribute to possession, create numerical advantages, provide width and generate chances.
El Karouani fits that profile.
His 18 assists from the previous season are particularly attractive.
Benfica now have a player capable of offering an additional attacking dimension from the left side.
He can overlap.
He can cross.
He can combine with teammates.
He can attack space.
And he can contribute to creating scoring opportunities.
El Karouani’s Own Description of His Game
During his first interview as a Benfica player, El Karouani highlighted several of his strengths.
The Moroccan explained that he considers versatility, crossing, combinations and aggression in both attack and defence to be among the characteristics he can bring to the Portuguese club.
That is an important description.
It shows that he does not see himself simply as an attacking player.
He understands that his defensive responsibilities are equally important.
For Benfica, that balance will be essential.
More Than Just an Attacking Full-Back
One of the biggest misconceptions about attacking full-backs is that they are weak defensively.
El Karouani will have the opportunity to prove otherwise.
Playing for Benfica requires defensive discipline.
The team regularly faces opponents who look to exploit space behind the full-backs.
El Karouani will therefore need to know when to attack and when to stay in position.
His ability to make that decision correctly will be crucial.
The best modern full-backs are able to switch between attacking and defensive responsibilities almost instinctively.
Benfica will expect El Karouani to develop that balance further.
Competition for the Left-Back Position
El Karouani is not arriving at Benfica to walk straight into an uncontested starting position.
There is already competition for the left-back role.
Players including Samuel Dahl and José Neto are also available to Benfica manager Marco Silva.
That competition could be beneficial for everyone.
El Karouani will have to fight for his place.
Every training session will matter.
Every appearance will matter.
And every performance will influence Marco Silva’s decisions.
Competition within a squad often raises the overall standard.
Marco Silva Gains Another Tactical Option
For Benfica manager Marco Silva, the arrival of El Karouani provides another tactical option.
Different opponents require different approaches.
Against a team sitting deep, an attacking full-back can be extremely useful.
Against an opponent with dangerous wingers, defensive discipline becomes more important.
Having several options allows the manager to adjust his tactics depending on the situation.
El Karouani’s versatility gives Silva another tool.
He can potentially be used as a traditional left-back or in more advanced positions depending on the tactical setup.
The Importance of His Crossing Ability
Crossing is one of El Karouani’s most notable qualities.
A well-delivered cross can completely change a game.
When a team struggles to break through the middle, attacking from the wings can create another route toward goal.
This is especially important against defensive teams.
El Karouani can provide width, receive the ball in advanced positions and deliver into the penalty area.
His ability to create assists demonstrates that this is not simply theoretical.
He has already shown that he can turn his attacking positions into actual goal contributions.
His 18 Assists Tell an Important Story
Statistics do not tell the entire story of a footballer, but sometimes one number can reveal a great deal.
For El Karouani, that number is 18.
Eighteen assists in 50 appearances during the 2025/26 campaign demonstrate his attacking influence.
It also shows that teammates trusted him.
They made runs knowing he could deliver.
He received the ball knowing that his next action could create a chance.
That type of understanding is difficult to develop.
At Benfica, he will now have to establish similar relationships with a new group of teammates.
The Challenge of Adapting to Portuguese Football
Moving from the Netherlands to Portugal will not necessarily be easy.
The tactical demands of the Portuguese league are different.
Opponents will study him.
Defensive systems will be different.
The tempo will vary.
And the pressure will be significantly greater.
At Utrecht, mistakes may not receive the same level of attention that they would at Benfica.
At the Estádio da Luz, every performance is analysed.
Every mistake can become a talking point.
Every strong performance can make headlines.
El Karouani will have to adapt quickly.
Benfica Is a Different Level of Pressure
There is a huge difference between being a promising player at a respected club and being a player for Benfica.
Benfica is one of the biggest clubs in Portugal and one of the most historically significant clubs in European football.
The expectations are enormous.
The club expects to compete for domestic trophies every season.
It also expects to perform strongly in European competition.
The supporters demand commitment.
And players must be prepared for intense scrutiny.
El Karouani’s mentality will therefore be tested as much as his technical ability.
But He Already Knows About Pressure
The good news for Benfica is that El Karouani is not completely inexperienced.
He has played professional football for several years.
He has represented Morocco.
He has played in European competitions.
And he has experienced different football environments.
That experience should help him adjust.
He also understands that the expectations at Benfica are high.
During his presentation, he made it clear that he did not arrive simply to participate.
He wants to win trophies.
“I Want to Win Trophies”
One of the strongest messages from El Karouani’s first interview was his ambition.
The Moroccan international made it clear that winning trophies is one of his primary objectives at Benfica.
That is exactly the mentality supporters want to hear.
Benfica is not a club where simply finishing the season without success is considered enough.
The club expects to challenge for silverware.
For El Karouani, this represents an opportunity to add major trophies to his career.
A New Chapter After Saudi Arabia
The Benfica move comes after a very short spell with Al-Qadisiyah in Saudi Arabia.
El Karouani had joined the Saudi club during the summer.
However, circumstances surrounding the club’s foreign-player squad situation created an opportunity for him to leave.
The player ultimately returned to Europe and joined Benfica.
This makes his move to Portugal particularly interesting.
Only a short time ago, he was preparing for a new life in Saudi Arabia.
Now he is wearing the shirt of one of Europe’s most famous clubs.
Why Returning to Europe Could Be Important
For El Karouani, Benfica offers the chance to continue playing at a high level in Europe.
The Portuguese club regularly competes in UEFA competitions.
That means he can test himself against some of the best players and clubs in European football.
For a 25-year-old international, that exposure can be extremely valuable.
Strong performances at Benfica could also strengthen his position within the Moroccan national team.
His International Career With Morocco
El Karouani chose to represent Morocco despite being born in the Netherlands.
His senior international debut came in October 2021 against Guinea-Bissau.
He entered the match late as Morocco recorded a 3-0 victory.
By the time of his Benfica transfer, he had accumulated six senior appearances for Morocco.
His international career is still developing.
Playing regularly for Benfica could provide him with an opportunity to become a more established member of the national team.
A Dutch Football Education With Moroccan Identity
El Karouani’s background gives him an interesting football identity.
He was born and developed in the Netherlands.
His technical education came through the Dutch football system.
But internationally, he represents Morocco.
That combination can be valuable.
Dutch football places a strong emphasis on technique, tactical understanding and attacking football.
Moroccan football has produced many technically gifted players who are comfortable in one-on-one situations.
El Karouani has experienced both environments.
The Benfica Fans Are Already Curious
The announcement generated an immediate response online.
Thousands of Benfica supporters reacted to the club’s social-media announcement.
The official graphic features El Karouani wearing the Benfica shirt with the number 34.
For supporters, the excitement now shifts from the announcement to the pitch.
They want to see what he can actually do.
Will the player who produced 18 assists in the Netherlands be able to produce similar numbers in Portugal?
Can he become a starter?
Can he help Benfica win trophies?
These are questions that only the season can answer.
The Number 34
El Karouani will wear the number 34 shirt at Benfica.
The number is now part of his new identity at the club.
For supporters, shirt numbers often become closely connected to players.
If El Karouani succeeds, number 34 could eventually become strongly associated with his time at Benfica.
But before that happens, he needs to establish himself on the pitch.
The Importance of His First Matches
The first few matches could be crucial.
They will give Marco Silva an opportunity to assess his adaptation.
They will also give supporters their first real impression of the new signing.
A strong debut could immediately build confidence.
A goal or assist would attract even more attention.
But El Karouani should not be judged solely on his first 90 minutes.
Moving to a new country and new club requires time.
The most important thing will be consistency.
Can He Repeat His Utrecht Numbers?
This is perhaps the biggest question surrounding the transfer.
El Karouani registered four goals and 18 assists in 50 matches last season.
Those are excellent numbers.
But Benfica is a different environment.
The opponents will be different.
The tactical requirements will be different.
And his teammates will be different.
There is no guarantee that he will reproduce exactly the same statistics.
However, the numbers demonstrate what he is capable of producing when he is confident and playing regularly.
The Loan Structure Gives Benfica Time
One advantage of the deal is that Benfica do not immediately have to make the transfer permanent.
The loan gives the club an entire season to evaluate El Karouani.
The option to buy then gives Benfica the possibility of keeping him if he proves successful.
This can be an effective transfer strategy.
The club gets the player.
The player gets an opportunity.
And both sides get time to determine whether a permanent relationship makes sense.
A Potential Long-Term Solution
If El Karouani performs well, Benfica could potentially turn the loan into a permanent transfer.
At 25, he is still young enough to have several important years ahead of him.
That means Benfica would not simply be investing in a short-term solution.
They could potentially be acquiring a left-back capable of contributing for several seasons.
His age and previous development make the move particularly interesting.
The Role of European Football
European football could be one of the biggest attractions for the player.
El Karouani has already experienced European competition with Utrecht.
At Benfica, the scale will be different.
The pressure will be greater.
The stadiums will be bigger.
The opponents can be among the strongest in Europe.
And every performance will be watched by a much larger audience.
For a player who wants to establish himself internationally, that is a major opportunity.
Benfica’s Ambitions
The club’s ambitions are not hidden.
Benfica wants to compete for domestic trophies.
The team also wants to make a strong impression in Europe.
El Karouani therefore arrives at a club where every competition matters.
His statement about wanting to win trophies fits naturally with those ambitions.
Now the challenge is turning that ambition into performances.
What Can El Karouani Bring to Benfica?
There are several areas where the Moroccan could make an immediate impact.
1. Attacking Width
El Karouani can provide width on the left side and stretch opposing defences.
2. Crossing
His ability to deliver dangerous balls into the penalty area is one of his most notable strengths.
3. Creativity
His 18 assists last season demonstrate that he can create chances.
4. Versatility
He can operate in different positions and tactical situations.
5. Experience
Despite being only 25, he already has significant professional and international experience.
6. Energy
His ability to repeatedly move between defence and attack can provide Benfica with another attacking outlet.
What Must He Improve?
Every player has weaknesses.
For El Karouani, adapting defensively to Benfica’s demands will be particularly important.
He will face opponents who are capable of exploiting space.
He will need to improve his decision-making regarding when to attack and when to remain in position.
He must also adapt to the physical and tactical demands of Portuguese football.
And perhaps most importantly, he needs consistency.
One spectacular performance is not enough.
Benfica need reliable performances throughout the season.
Marco Silva Will Have the Final Say
Ultimately, the player’s role will depend on Marco Silva.
The coach will decide how and when to use him.
El Karouani’s job is to make that decision difficult.
He must train well.
He must perform when given opportunities.
And he must show that he deserves more minutes.
If he does that, his role could grow quickly.
A Huge Opportunity for the Moroccan
For El Karouani personally, this could be the biggest club opportunity of his career.
He has already experienced the Netherlands.
He has played in Saudi Arabia.
He has represented Morocco.
But Benfica offers something different.
It offers history.
It offers European exposure.
It offers huge support.
And it offers the chance to compete for major trophies.
If he succeeds, his reputation could rise significantly.
The Benfica Chapter Begins
The photograph published by the club is only the beginning.
The signing ceremony is complete.
The number 34 is confirmed.
The contract is signed.
Now comes the most important part.
Football.
El Karouani must now prove himself on the pitch.
He must earn the trust of his coach.
He must win the support of the fans.
And he must show why Benfica decided to bring him to Lisbon.
Final Verdict
Souffian El Karouani is officially a Benfica player.
The 25-year-old Moroccan international joins from Al-Qadisiyah on loan for the 2026/27 season, with an option for Benfica to make the transfer permanent.
He arrives after an outstanding 2025/26 season with FC Utrecht, where he produced four goals and 18 assists in 50 matches.
His attacking numbers immediately make him an exciting addition.
His ability to cross, create chances and contribute from the left side could provide Benfica with another attacking weapon.
At the same time, the player understands that he must also prove himself defensively.
The competition for the left-back position will be strong.
The pressure will be enormous.
The expectations will be high.
But El Karouani appears ready for the challenge.
He has already sent a clear message to the Benfica supporters.
He wants to win trophies.
Now the real journey begins.
The number 34 is on his back.
The Benfica badge is on his chest.
The Estádio da Luz awaits.
And the question is no longer whether Souffian El Karouani is going to play for Benfica.
He already is.
The question now is much more interesting:
Can El Karouani become one of Benfica’s most important players during the 2026/27 season?
Only time — and his performances on the pitch — will provide the answer.
