Rabat – Wydad Athletic Club have officially announced the return of Moroccan left-back Yahya Attiat Allah on a one-year contract as part of their preparations for the 2026–2027 season.
The club confirmed the agreement on Sunday evening, bringing back a player who enjoyed considerable domestic and continental success during his first spell with the Reds.
Wydad did not disclose the financial details of the deal or indicate whether the contract contains an option for an additional season.
The 31-year-old returns to Casablanca after playing for Russian club PFC Sochi and spending the 2024–2025 campaign on loan at Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
Al Ahly’s agreement with Sochi included an option to make the move permanent, but Attiat Allah later returned to the Russian club.
Reports ahead of Sunday’s announcement said Wydad viewed Attiat Allah as an experienced solution to the club’s problems at left-back, a position the team had struggled to fill consistently following his departure.
A successful first spell with Wydad
Attiat Allah initially joined Wydad in late 2019 following a brief spell with Greek club Volos. He became a regular on the left side of the defence and played a central role during one of the club’s most successful recent periods.
The Safi-born defender helped Wydad win consecutive Botola Pro titles in the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 seasons. He was also part of the team that defeated Al Ahly 2-0 in Casablanca to win the 2022 CAF Champions League.
Wydad reached the continental final again one year later. Attiat Allah scored in the second leg against Al Ahly at the Mohammed V Stadium, although the Egyptian side equalized late to claim the title with a 3-2 aggregate victory.
His return is part of Wydad’s effort to restore experience and familiarity to the squad. The club have also brought back former captain Yahya Jabrane on a one-season contract and reached agreements with another former midfielder, Aymane El Hassouni.
The three players were important members of the Wydad side that won the Moroccan league and CAF Champions League under Walid Regragui.
World Cup experience added to Wydad squad
Attiat Allah’s profile rose further during Morocco’s historic campaign at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
He featured prominently after Noussair Mazraoui suffered an injury and provided the cross from which Youssef En-Nesyri scored the winning goal against Portugal in the quarter-finals. The victory made Morocco the first African and Arab country to reach a men’s World Cup semi-final.
The defender later left Wydad for Sochi in February 2024 before joining Al Ahly on a season-long loan.
His experience in Morocco, Russia, Greece and Egypt, combined with his international background, should provide Wydad with an established option on the left side of defence.
The one-year agreement also represents an opportunity for Attiat Allah to regain regular playing time in familiar surroundings. For Wydad, his return continues a recruitment strategy centered partly on players who understand the club’s demands and have previously delivered major titles.
