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Rabat – Morocco’s football club AS FAR has reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Moroccan international defender Yunis Abdelhamid on a free-transfer deal that will bring the 37-year-old to Botola Pro once his contract with AS Saint-Étienne expires on June 30.
Abdelhamid has already signed preliminary papers for a one-year contract and is expected in Rabat next week for medical tests and the formal presentation.
Abdelhamid spent his entire professional life in France, amassing 439 senior appearances and 24 goals. He started with AC Arles, Valenciennes, Dijon, Stade de Reims, and, this past season, Saint-Étienne.
The Moroccan defender became a regular starter at Reims, where he captained the side and logged 236 matches, helping Reims clinch the 2017-18 Ligue 2 title, which prompted them to Ligue 1.
Even in 2024-25, an injury-managed campaign at Saint-Étienne, he started 16 league games and played 1,004 minutes, still ranking in the squad’s top three for clearances and aerial duels won.
New Portuguese coach Alexandre Santos, appointed in February, has pushed the club to add an experienced veteran who can strengthen AS FAR defense ahead of a third consecutive CAF Champions League run.
Abdelhamid earned 16 caps for Morocco and was part of Walid Regragui’s expanded squad for AFCON 2023. Playing in the Botola gives the veteran a chance to stay match-fit and ready if called up for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
