Morocco’s 2008 generation makes double-club breakthrough with three European contracts

Three Morocco-born or eligible young players have signed their first professional contracts with Southampton and AS Monaco within the space of 24 hours.

Yunus Linton, Safouane Benzahra and Nahel Haddani, all members of the 2008 generation, have committed their futures until June 2029. Linton will continue his development at Southampton, while Benzahra and Haddani have secured professional terms with AS Monaco.

The three players have taken different routes through the game, but their progress underlines the growing number of Moroccan prospects emerging at European clubs.

Linton joins Southampton

Linton, a 17-year-old midfielder, is not yet widely known to Moroccan supporters. He developed outside England’s traditional academy system, but his performances still attracted interest from several Premier League clubs and teams elsewhere in Europe.

Southampton won the race for his signature and handed him a three-year contract. He is expected to begin with the club’s Under-18 side.

Linton is eligible to represent Morocco and has also received his first call-up to the Morocco Under-17 squad.

Benzahra’s international future remains open

Benzahra is further along in his development. Born in Breda in the Netherlands, the 18-year-old attacking midfielder joined Monaco from NAC Breda in 2025.

He scored eight goals for Monaco Under-19s last season before being involved in first-team pre-season preparations. He subsequently made his first appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League and Ligue 1, featuring in the victory in Paris.

Benzahra has represented Morocco at youth level, but the Netherlands-born midfielder has now been called up by France Under-19s. His international future therefore remains undecided at this stage of his career.

Haddani continues rise at Monaco

Haddani has established a reputation as a natural finisher. Before moving to Monaco, the striker scored 22 goals in the national Under-17 championship for Saint-Clement Montferrier.

He continued that form in his first season in the principality, scoring 14 times in 22 matches for Monaco Under-19s. A Morocco youth international, Haddani also scored three goals and provided one assist at the 2025 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

He is now part of Monaco’s Elite Group, bringing him closer to the club’s senior squad.

His professional contract follows a pattern already established at Monaco. A few months earlier, Ilies Belmokhtar signed his first professional deal after helping Morocco win the 2025 Africa Under-17 Cup of Nations.

The agreements do not guarantee Linton, Benzahra or Haddani a career at the highest level, but they represent important steps in their development. Benzahra has already experienced senior football, Haddani is progressing towards Monaco’s first team and Linton is beginning his journey at Southampton.