AS Monaco secures future of Morocco talents with contracts until 2029

AS Monaco have announced today the signing of their first professional contracts with young Moroccan duo Sofiane Ben Zahra and Nahl Haddani, in a move that reflects the club's confidence in the players' talents. The contracts will run until June 30, 2029.

Sofiane Ben Zahra is 18 years old and plays as an attacking midfielder. He joined AS Monaco in the summer of 2025 from NAC Breda on a three-year trainee contract.

The Moroccan player has quickly caught attention with AS Monaco's under-19 team, scoring 8 goals during the 2025-2026 season, and subsequently earned the opportunity to join the elite group in the club's academy.

During the preparation period for the current season, Ben Zahra stepped up to the first team training under coach Felipe Luis and participated in several friendly matches before making his official debut in the first leg of the playoff round of the UEFA Europa Conference League against Górnik Zabrze.

The Moroccan player also participated in the return leg, making his first appearance at the Louis II Stadium, before earning his first minutes in Ligue 1 during AS Monaco's victory over Paris Saint-Germain by 2-1.

On the international stage, Ben Zahra has previously represented the Morocco national team at the U17 and U18 levels, before recently receiving a call-up to join the U20 Atlas Lions.

In contrast, the trust in the second Moroccan talent, Nahl Haddani, born in 2008, has been extended after an impressive journey since his move to AS Monaco in the summer of 2025 from NAC Breda.

El Haddani had excelled in the shirt of his previous club, which belongs to the Hérault region, contributing to the team finishing in third place in the national under-17 championship, after scoring 22 goals.

In his first season at AS Monaco's academy, the Moroccan forward made 22 appearances and scored 14 goals, securing his place among the elite group.

Al-Haddani shone with Morocco during the FIFA World Cup U-17 2025 in Qatar, contributing to the team's progress to the quarter-finals after finishing the tournament with 3 goals and an assist.

One of his standout moments in the tournament was scoring a brace during Morocco's historic 16-0 victory over New Caledonia, before Morocco's journey ended in the quarter-finals after losing to Brazil 2-1.

The announcement of the first professional contracts for Ben Zahra and Al-Hadani comes at a time when AS Monaco is enjoying a strong start in Ligue 1, as the team tops the standings with 13 points after five rounds, achieving 4 victories and 1 draw.