El Karouani to join Benfica, arrival date already set | OneFootball

Moroccan left-back Souffian El Karouani is set to join Benfica on a one-season loan from Al Qadsiah, in Saudi Arabia. The news was first reported by the Saudi outlet Asharq Al-Awsat, which says the agreement between the clubs is practically done.

According to the same source, the defender will officially sign the loan deal this Saturday, August 29, the date scheduled for the transfer to be finalized. In this way, El Karouani is preparing to begin a new stage of his career, now in the service of the club from Luz.

The arrival of the Morocco international represents a solution for the left-back position at Benfica, an area that had been closely monitored by the club’s hierarchy. The player arrives to increase competition for José Neto and Samuel Dahl, in a loan deal valid for one season that will give Marco Silva another option for the position.

El Karouani’s contractual and sporting situation ultimately made the move easier. The full-back was not registered by Al Qadsiah for competitions after the Saudi club reached the limit of permitted foreign players. The club currently has 14 foreign footballers in the squad, but can only register eight, a circumstance that opened the door to the Morocco international’s departure.

As such, El Karouani will leave Al Qadsiah just three months after joining the club on a free transfer. Benfica took advantage of the opportunity to strengthen a position that needed attention in the market, securing a player with experience and the ability to compete for a place in the starting eleven.

Watch a goal by El Karouani, Benfica’s likely new signing:

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.