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.
Season Statistics: 2026/27
4
Appearances
1 Starts • 3 Sub In • 1 Sub Out
142
Minutes
In the Pitch
0
Goals
1 Assists
1/0
Bookings
Yellow / Red Cards
Matches During 2026/27
| Date | Competition | Venue | Opponent | Result | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 OCT THU 20:00 |  UEFA Europa LeagueMatchday 2 | H | Celtic | 4-1 | 64' |
20 SEP SUN 20:30 |  Portugal League BetclicMatchday 7 | A | FC Porto | 3-1 | 85' |
16 SEP WED 20:00 | UEFA Europa LeagueMatchday 1 | A | AC Milan | 0-2 | Started 88' 1 1 |
9 SEP WED 20:45 | Portugal League BetclicMatchday 3 | A | Moreirense | 0-4 | 78' |
W: 3
D: 0
L: 1