Ilias Akhomach returns after 93 days as Villarreal back him for 2026/27 | OneFootball

Ilias Akhomach is back 93 days after his last outing, returning for Villarreal in a friendly against Galatasaray. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, the club are pleased with his progress and intend to keep him in their plans for 2026/27.

The Morocco international came on in the 72nd minute on Saturday 8 August, replacing Nicolas Pepe. These were his first minutes since early May after a summer spent regaining fitness under new head coach Iñigo Pérez.

His previous competitive involvement was on 7 May during his loan at Rayo Vallecano, when a muscle problem in the warm-up stopped him before kick-off. Tests later showed a low-grade tear in his left quadriceps, with an initial two to three week estimate that dragged on.

He did not feature again before the season ended and missed much of Villarreal’s pre-season work.

Pérez knows Akhomach well from Rayo and views his pace, dribbling and one-on-one threat as a good fit for the style he is implementing. The winger deepens Villarreal’s wide options and offers direct competition for Pepe on the left.

Loan interest emerged in recent weeks, including from Espanyol and Olympique de Marseille. The focus, though, was first on getting him back on the pitch and restoring confidence after the injury.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

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