Columbus Crew sign Anass Zaroury on loan

Columbus Crew have signed Moroccan midfielder Anass Zaroury on loan from Panathinaikos until the end of the 2027 Premier League season, with an option for the American club to buy the player's contract permanently.

Anass Zaroury will be registered among the international players for Columbus Crew, officially joining the team after obtaining a U.S. work visa.

Columbus Crew's general manager, Aïssa Tal, said: "Anass is a technical and bold player, and he will bring more creativity and experience to our roster. He has showcased his abilities in several European leagues, and we are excited to welcome him to the team."

Anass Zaroury had played for Panathinaikos on loan during the 2025-2026 season before joining the Greek club permanently on May 22. Last season, he appeared in 50 matches across all competitions, scoring 8 goals and providing 4 assists, including a hat-trick against Swiss side Young Boys in the UEFA Europa League on September 25, 2025.

Anass Zaroury previously played for Burnley and helped them achieve promotion to the Premier League after an exceptional season in the EFL Championship. He also had a loan spell with Hull City.

Moroccan international Anass Zaroury has played for RC Lens in France, as well as Lommel and Sporting Charleroi in Belgium. He has made a total of 49 appearances for Burnley, scoring 10 goals and providing 9 assists.

On the international stage, Anass Zaroury has represented Belgium at youth levels from under 17 to under 21 before choosing to represent Morocco at the senior level.

Anass Zaroury made his international debut for Morocco on November 17, 2022, against Georgia. He also participated in the third-place playoff at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar against Croatia, where he played for 26 minutes.