Ex-France Under-21 captain Ayyoub Bouaddi switches to Morocco, cleared to play

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·17 May 2026

Ex-France Under-21 captain Ayyoub Bouaddi switches to Morocco, cleared to play

Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old Lille midfielder, has chosen to represent Morocco.

The Moroccan federation announced on Friday that FIFA’s Players’ Status Chamber approved the switch on 15 May 2026, adding that he is officially and immediately eligible for international selection.

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Bouaddi has impressed over the past two seasons at Lille, making 95 appearances in all competitions.

He captained France Under-21s and earned 10 caps, scoring once.

Never called up by Didier Deschamps for the senior France side, Bouaddi could feature in Morocco’s 2026 World Cup group. The tournament runs from 11 June to 19 July, with the squad list due on 21 May.

Source: Le Progres