PROFILE | Nayef Aguerd brings experience at high-flying Marseille | OneFootball

When Olympique de Marseille signed Nayef Aguerd in the summer, the logic was obvious. At 29, the Morocco international returned to the league where he had built his reputation with Dijon and Stade Rennais, but now bringing with him a Premier League, La Liga and World Cup pedigree. 

That impact was immediate. In September, Aguerd rose above PSG’s defence in the fourth minute of Le Classique to power home a header and seal Marseille’s first home league victory in Ligue 1 over their rivals since 2011. The goal lifted a long-standing psychological curse and encapsulated what Aguerd offers: calm dominance in his own box, threat in the opposition’s, and composure when the stakes are highest.

Under Roberto De Zerbi, Aguerd has become a cornerstone of a new-look defensive unit. Whether operating in a back three or back five, he has provided balance on the left side, allowing Marseille to press high while remaining defensively secure. His experience alongside fellow revenant Benjamin Pavard initially brought instant cohesion to a previously fragile back line.

“It’s different to the teams I played with before,” Aguerd noted a few months ago about his role as a defender under De Zerbi. “Every match there are new ideas, but it’s been good with Pavard, Medina, CJ – it’s a question of relaxing, adapting and bringing in players that aren’t going to hide.”

Can Aguerd’s body take the strain?

Statistically, Aguerd’s profile works with Marseille’s progressive style of play when passing out the back. Over the last 365 days, he ranks in the 92nd percentile among centre-backs for passes attempted, with an 89.9% pass completion rate, while also posting strong numbers for progressive passing (75th percentile) and aerial duels won (76th percentile). 

De Zerbi has repeatedly highlighted the importance of experienced signings who ‘understand things quickly’, singling out Aguerd as a player who immediately brought more defensive authority into the dressing room. Even when suffering with Pubalgia in the latter weeks of 2025, his coach has preferred the Moroccan’s presence to club captain Leonardo Balerdi – such is the trust that De Zerbi has bestowed upon the centreback. 

Internationally, Aguerd remains one of Morocco’s defensive leaders and will be looking to secure his first AFCON title on home soil with the Atlas Lions over the winter. The question for Aguerd is whether his body can keep up with the sheer amount of games he is playing. Yet there is no doubt that tournament and Premier League experience has translated seamlessly to Marseille’s high-wire environment in his time so far in the Provence region.

GFFN | George Boxall