El-Faouzi's Journey from Alemannia Aachen to the Moroccan National Team
After an impressive season with FC Schalke 04, Soufiane El-Faouzi is seizing the opportunity to showcase his talents in Morocco's training camp for the upcoming World Cup. The competition is fierce, but El-Faouzi's journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Transferred from Alemannia Aachen to Schalke in the summer of 2025 for a mere €250,000, El-Faouzi has proven to be a valuable asset. During his time in the second division, he emerged as a key player, contributing significantly to Schalke's recent promotion to the Bundesliga.
Now, the 23-year-old midfielder has the chance to make his mark on the world stage, as he finds himself in the preliminary squad for Morocco's national team. The training camp is set to take place at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, a suburb of Rabat, where El-Faouzi will participate in training sessions and a friendly match against Burundi. With Morocco's first World Cup match scheduled for June 13 against Brazil, followed by matches against Scotland and Haiti, this is a pivotal moment for the young player.
Facing Stiff Competition for a World Cup Spot
However, El-Faouzi will have to overcome significant competition in the midfield to secure his spot in the final squad. Notable players like Ayyoub Bouaddi from LOSC Lille, Oussama Targhalline of Feyenoord Rotterdam, Samir El Mourabet from Racing Strasbourg, and Imran Louza of Watford are also vying for a position in the team. Despite the tough competition, El-Faouzi's performance last season speaks volumes about his capabilities. Having played all 36 competitive matches as a starter under coach Miron Muslić, he scored two goals and provided five assists, showcasing his reliability and skill on the field.
What sets El-Faouzi apart is his remarkable endurance, having covered an astonishing 427 kilometers over 34 league matches, making him the most industrious player across all professional leagues in Germany. Interestingly, this distance mirrors the impressive statistics he achieved during his time in the third division with Aachen in the 2024/2025 season, where he similarly outpaced his peers in terms of distance run. With several clubs reportedly showing interest in him, his current contract with Schalke, lasting until 2029, could lead to a significant transfer fee of up to €15 million, according to reports from Sky, given his current market value of €4 million.
As reported by aachen.t-online.de.
