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Rabat – Mahdi El Maimouni, a midfielder of Moroccan origin, has reportedly completed his move from Belgian club Sporting Charleroi to Barcelona’s La Masia.
Born in 2009, he developed through Charleroi’s youth system, where his performances earned him the Best Young Talent award at the 2024 Lion d’Or ceremony. That recognition drew attention from scouts at clubs across Europe and England.
Barcelona had been monitoring him for close to two years, attracted by his tactical understanding and his ability to play in multiple midfield positions.
While FC Barcelona did not release any official news on the signing, viral reports show a series of photos of El Maimouni signing his contract with La Masia.
Barcelona wasn’t the only club interested. PSV and several Premier League sides had also been tracking him before the Catalan club completed the move.
His composure under pressure and his ability to control the pace of play have led to comparisons with Sergio Busquets, the former Barça midfielder known for those same traits.
His international future remains undecided. Although he has Moroccan roots, El Maimouni came through Belgium’s youth system and has not yet chosen which country to represent at the senior level, a decision that will be watched closely, given how often Moroccan-connected players from La Masia end up as part of the wider conversation around the Atlas Lions.
For the moment, though, the story is simply about settling in.
He becomes the latest in a long line of Moroccan-origin players for whom Barcelona’s academy has acted as a launchpad to the professional game.
