Benfica have completed the signing of Morocco international Souffian El Karouani on a one-season loan from Al Qadsiah, adding a new option at left-back for the Portuguese club.
The move, first revealed exclusively by Africafoot, was formally confirmed on Benfica’s official X account. The agreement includes an option for the Lisbon club to make the transfer permanent, with the fee understood to be set at about €10m.
El Karouani, 25, now has the opportunity to continue his development in European football after moving to Portugal. The defender will take on a fresh challenge in Benfica colours as he looks to establish himself in the squad and make an impression during his loan spell.
His arrival comes only shortly after he moved to Saudi Arabia. Although El Karouani had recently joined Al Qadsiah, he did not play a single competitive match for the club before switching to Benfica.
The Morocco international’s current market value is estimated at €15m by Transfermarkt, a figure above the reported fee attached to Benfica’s purchase option. His immediate objective will be to compete for a place at left-back, while the longer-term ambition is to persuade Benfica’s hierarchy that the permanent move should be completed at the end of the loan.
The deal therefore gives Benfica the chance to assess El Karouani in a European league before deciding whether to activate the option. For the player, it offers an immediate route into a new environment despite his short stay in Saudi Arabia and the fact he had not yet made his competitive debut for Al Qadsiah.
Benfica are due to play Maritimo in their next match, in the fifth round of the Portuguese championship. The fixture will provide the club with its next opportunity to assess its squad, although there is no indication in the available information of whether El Karouani will be involved.
Betting company 1xbet lists Benfica as clear favourites for the match. Its published odds put a Benfica victory at 1.27, while a draw is priced at 5.60 and a Maritimo win at 10.25.
El Karouani’s loan is consequently the latest development for a player whose career has changed direction quickly: from a recent move to Al Qadsiah, where he never appeared in an official game, to a new opportunity with Benfica and the possibility of securing a permanent place in Lisbon.