Portuguese club Benfica have completed the signing of Moroccan international left-back Souffian El Karouani on a season-long loan from Saudi Arabian side Al-Qadisiyah.
The Lisbon club confirmed the deal on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, securing the defender for the remainder of the 2026/27 campaign. The agreement also includes an option for Benfica to make the transfer permanent at the end of the loan spell.
In an official statement announcing the move, Benfica confirmed that the Moroccan international left-back would wear the Sacred Mantle until the end of the 2026/27 season under the loan agreement from Al-Qadisiyah.
Player background and career path
El Karouani arrived in Saudi Arabia earlier in the summer, signing for Al-Qadisiyah on a free transfer. However, the defender leaves without having played a single official match for the Saudi Arabian side.
Before his move to Saudi Arabia, the defender spent three seasons playing in the Netherlands for Eredivisie club Utrecht between 2023 and 2026. He originally completed his youth training at Dutch club NEC Nijmegen before progressing to senior football.
Benfica summer transfers under Marco Silva
The addition of El Karouani and Portuguese midfielder João Palhinha completes Benfica's squad reinforcement for the new season.
The defender becomes the seventh signing brought to the club by manager Marco Silva ahead of the new campaign. Benfica had already secured the transfers of Clément Lenglet, Gabriel Índio, Jakub Kaminski, Jhon Durán, Alessandro Circati and João Palhinha.
El Karouani had been targeted by Benfica as a potential defensive option, while midfielder Richard Ríos was reported as a transfer target for Turkish club Galatasaray.
Upcoming fixtures and European schedule
The defensive signing arrives as Benfica prepare for a key stretch of domestic and European fixtures.
In European competition, Benfica's schedule includes a match in Milan against AC Milan, who are managed by Ruben Amorim and feature Gonçalo Ramos. The European calendar forces Benfica to play in Milan just four days before traveling to face FC Porto at the Estádio do Dragão.
