Safouane Ben Zahra, 18, on the verge of first pro deal with AS Monaco

Moroccan attacking midfielder Safouane Ben Zahra, 18, is about to take a decisive step at AS Monaco, where he is expected to sign his first professional contract according to several specialized sources.

Safouane Ben Zahra, a path built between the Netherlands and Monaco

Originally from Morocco and developed in the Netherlands, Safouane Ben Zahra joined AS Monaco in the summer of 2025 from NAC Breda. He had spent seven seasons in the Dutch club’s youth ranks before signing a three-year trainee deal in the Principality.

In just one year, he has established himself as one of the most promising players in Monaco’s academy. His rapid rise reflects the growing impact of young Moroccan players in Europe’s top leagues.

Strong U19 figures and promotion to Monaco’s elite group

For his first season on the Rock, the young midfielder played 18 matches with Monaco’s U19 side. He scored eight goals and delivered seven assists, numbers that convinced the club to move him up a level.

These performances earned him a place in the “elite group”, the bridge between the academy and the first team. This status confirms that Safouane Ben Zahra is now firmly on the radar of the senior coaching staff.

• 18 games played with the U19s
• 8 goals scored
• 7 assists provided

For Moroccans living abroad, especially those based in Europe, Ben Zahra’s trajectory is another concrete example of how players can move from foreign youth systems to the professional level.

From pre-season camp to Ligue 1 debut

Identified by head coach Filipe Luís, this case was included in Monaco’s pre-season training camp for the 2026-2027 season in England, alongside the senior squad. On 9 August, he impressed during a 3–2 friendly win over Liverpool at Anfield.

He was then handed a starting role in both legs of the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off tie. A few weeks later, another symbolic milestone was reached.

On 4 September, this issue made his Ligue 1 debut at the Parc des Princes, in Monaco’s 2–1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain. That first appearance in the French top flight underlined the staff’s belief in his potential.

Already on the radar of Morocco’s youth national teams

At international level, the young midfielder has already earned three caps with Morocco’s U18 side. He has also been called up by the U20s, showing that the national setup is closely monitoring his club development.

For Moroccans abroad, the rise of players like Ben Zahra helps strengthen the connection with the national teams. Many parents follow these paths for their own children growing up overseas and watch how young talents manage to combine European development with attachment to the Moroccan jersey.

If he confirms his progress and finalizes this first professional deal, the story could become another strong ambassador of Moroccan talent in a European club renowned for its work with young players.

For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.

For official updates, readers can check the relevant official source.