Official! Karouani unveiled at Benfica: all the details, When... | OneFootball

Left-back El Karouani, 25, has joined Benfica's professional football team. The Moroccan international arrives at the Eagles from Al-Qadisiyah on a loan deal valid until the end of the season, with the Club holding an option to buy. The player said he is very happy, but when representing a club like Benfica, there can only be one thought.

"I want to win titles, that is my main goal. When you play for a club as big as this one, it can only be that way," the 25-year-old told the Club's media, also mentioning the main qualities he has to offer. "I can bring a lot of variety on the pitch, inside and outside... crosses, combinations and aggression both in attack and in defense," he said.

El Karouani arrived in Lisbon last Sunday and underwent the usual medical exams on Monday. This Tuesday, he already took the opportunity to get to know a little of the city that will host him for at least the coming season. "It means a lot to me, it is a huge club, one of the biggest in Europe. I can only be happy to be here. Ever since I arrived, I have felt good and happy. Today I was in the city, which is nice. Now I am seeing the Estádio da Luz, it is special," he revealed.

In 2025/26, the full-back smashed all of his personal bests in a single season, recording four goals and 18 assists in 50 matches across the Eredivisie, the Dutch Cup and the Europa League: in the first two competitions, he stood out as the player with the best average of accurate crosses per game.

Earlier this summer, El Karouani moved to Al-Qadisiyah, switching to Benfica before even making his official debut for the Saudis. However, the footballer did not adapt to life in the Middle East and returned to Europe.

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