Meknes – AS Saint-Étienne officially announced on Tuesday that 19-year-old Moroccan midfielder Adam Baallal has signed his first professional contract with the club.
The young prospect joined the French club having developed at the prestigious Mohammed VI Football Academy and represented domestic side Union Touarga Sport.
Reflecting on his new deal, Baallal spoke about his excitement and determination to keep growing with Saint-Étienne.
“It is a source of great pride to sign a professional contract with a massive club like ASSE, whose shirt I’ve already had the joy of wearing in competitive first-team matches over recent weeks,” Baallal said.
“My ambition now is to work hard to earn more playing time in Ligue 2, even though I know there is still a long road ahead,” he added.
At just 17 years old, Baallal made his senior debut in Morocco’s top flight, making seven Botola Pro appearances for Union Touarga Sport.
Alongside his early club exposure, the midfielder established himself in the Moroccan national youth setup, earning 13 caps between the U16 and U20 levels.
After joining Saint-Étienne’s Robert-Herbin training center in January, Baallal quickly progressed through the ranks.
The Moroccan international moved up from the U19 team to secure a starting spot in the National 3 reserve side for the final seven matches of the season, while also receiving his first senior call-up for a Ligue 2 match against Rodez.
This summer, Baallal joined the first-team squad for pre-season training under manager Ian Cathro. He impressed during daily sessions and earned a spot in the summer training camp, grabbing headlines with goals in friendly victories over Lausanne (4-0) and Venezia (4-3).
After racking up his first senior appearances against Sochaux and Clermont, the Moroccan midfielder has cemented his status as a full professional. He is now under contract with Les Verts through June 2029.
