Benfica signs Souffian El Karouani on loan from Al-Qadsiah

Benfica has officially completed the loan signing of Moroccan international left-back Souffian El Karouani from Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadsiah. The 25-year-old defender joins the Portuguese side until the end of the 2026/27 season.

The deal includes an option for Benfica to purchase the player permanently, with the buyout clause reportedly valued at approximately 10 million euros. El Karouani, who previously played for FC Utrecht in the Netherlands, had recently joined Al-Qadsiah on a free transfer but was unable to participate in official matches due to restrictions on the number of foreign players allowed in the Saudi league.

After successfully passing medical examinations in Lisbon, El Karouani expressed his enthusiasm for returning to European football, stating, “I didn’t need to think twice” about the move. He is expected to bolster manager Marco Silva’s defensive options on the left flank.