Hatim Essaouabi and a new journey in Belgium with a new atmosphere! | OneFootball

Hatim Essaouabi and a new journey in Belgium with a new atmosphere!

The Belgian top flight has secured one of Morocco's brightest emerging talents as AS FAR's creative midfielder Hatim Essaouabi completes his €1.3 million transfer to KAA Gent - a move that underscores both the player's rapid development and Belgium's growing appetite for North African flair.

This 22-year-old playmaker, nurtured within the disciplined structure of Rabat's military club, arrives in Flanders carrying more than just a price tag. His game-changing qualities - that silky first touch, visionary passing range, and uncanny ability to dictate match tempo - didn't just impress Gent's scouts; they demanded immediate action in a deal that could reshape the club's attacking dynamics.

Essaouabi's transition from Moroccan football's regimented environment to Belgium's technical proving grounds represents more than a transfer - it's a litmus test for how Africa's creative talents adapt to Europe's demanding midfield battlegrounds. For Gent, they've not just acquired a player, but a potential conduit between their domestic ambitions and Europa League aspirations.

A starting point and great ambition for the young Moroccan

At 23, Essaouabi isn't just changing clubs - he's strategically positioning himself on European football's most productive conveyor belt. The Jupiler Pro League's reputation for polishing raw talent into continental commodities made this the calculated next step for a player whose creative gifts have outgrown Morocco's domestic stage.

Gent's acquisition reveals more than transfer market activity; it exposes a deliberate talent pipeline strategy. While other clubs chase finished products, the Buffalos are doubling down on their proven formula - identifying Africa's most technically-gifted prospects and fast-tracking their European evolution. Their technical staff sees in Essaouabi not just another signing, but potentially their next breakout midfield architect.

This transfer writes Essaouabi into a select group of Moroccans to wear Gent's iconic blue-and-white, carrying with it the weight of expectation from both North African supporters and Belgian tacticians who value his particular brand of midfield alchemy. As he prepares to touch down in Flanders for preseason, the real work begins: converting potential into performances that could eventually echo the trajectories of former Pro League stars now gracing Europe's elite competitions.