SL Benfica - Souffian El Karouani, #34
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Signed on loan from Al-Qadisiyah on deadline day of the 2026 summer window, the Morocco international left-back joins for the season.
Born in the Netherlands to a Moroccan family, El Karouani came through a string of Dutch academies - TGG, Den Bosch, BVV and USV Elinkwijk - before finishing his formation at NEC Nijmegen, where he made his senior debut in August 2019 at eighteen. He became a fixture in the side and helped NEC back into the Eredivisie in 2021 after four years away.
A move to FC Utrecht in 2023 made his reputation: three seasons as a first-choice full-back, repeatedly named in the Eredivisie team of the month, before the Saudi Pro League took him to Al-Qadisiyah in June 2026.
Left-footed and quick over the ground, he is an attacking full-back who overlaps early and delivers from the by-line. He chose Morocco over the country of his birth and made his senior debut in October 2021, in a 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Guinea-Bissau.
Born in the Netherlands to a Moroccan family, El Karouani came through a string of Dutch academies - TGG, Den Bosch, BVV and USV Elinkwijk - before finishing his formation at NEC Nijmegen, where he made his senior debut in August 2019 at eighteen. He became a fixture in the side and helped NEC back into the Eredivisie in 2021 after four years away.
A move to FC Utrecht in 2023 made his reputation: three seasons as a first-choice full-back, repeatedly named in the Eredivisie team of the month, before the Saudi Pro League took him to Al-Qadisiyah in June 2026.
Left-footed and quick over the ground, he is an attacking full-back who overlaps early and delivers from the by-line. He chose Morocco over the country of his birth and made his senior debut in October 2021, in a 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Guinea-Bissau.
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| By Season | Min | Apps | Start | Sub | Goals | Ast | YC | RC | Rtg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | 142 | 4 | 1 | 3 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - |
 Portugal League Betclic | 23 | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
 UEFA Europa League | 119 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| Total | 142 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| By Competition | Seasons | Apps | Goals | Ast | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portuguese League | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| UEFA Europa League | 1 | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | - |
| Career | - | 4 | - | 1 | 1 | - |
Market Value
€15M €15M
Latest Appearances
| Date | Competition | Venue | Opponent | Result | Minutes Played | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 OCT THU 20:00 | UEFA Europa LeagueMatchday 2 | H | 4-1 | →64' | 29' | ||
20 SEP SUN 20:30 | Portugal League BetclicMatchday 7 | A | 3-1 | →85' | 10' | ||
16 SEP WED 20:00 | UEFA Europa LeagueMatchday 1 | A | 0-2 | XI←88' | 90' | ||
9 SEP WED 20:45 | Portugal League BetclicMatchday 3 | A | 0-4 | →78' | 13' | ||
Latest Assists
| Date | Competition | Venue | Opponent | Result | Assists | Assist Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 SEP WED 20:00 | UEFA Europa LeagueMatchday 1 | A | 0-2 | 1 | 54' |
Latest Bookings
| Date | Competition | Venue | Opponent | Result | Yellow Cards | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 SEP WED 20:00 | UEFA Europa LeagueMatchday 1 | A | 0-2 | 1 | 26' |