Safouane Benzahra and Nahël Haddani turn professional at Monaco

AS Monaco officially announced on Tuesday the signing of the first professional contracts for two of its young Moroccan talents, Safouane Benzahra and Nahël Haddani. The two players from the 2008 generation have committed to the club in the Principality until June 30, 2029.

For Safouane Benzahra, this signing confirms a particularly rapid progression. Arriving at the Monaco Academy in the summer of 2025 from NAC Breda, the 18-year-old attacking midfielder quickly established himself with the U19s, notably scoring 8 goals in 16 league matches last season. Integrated into the professional group during the summer preparation, he has since made his official debut with the first team in the UEFA Europa Conference League before experiencing Ligue 1 during the victory against Paris Saint-Germain (2-1).

The young Moroccan international has also reached a new milestone with the national team. After representing Morocco at the U17 and U18 levels, Benzahra has been selected for the U20 team to participate in the UNAF tournament in Egypt, which is a qualifier for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in the category. The Young Lions will face Tunisia on September 27, Algeria on September 30, Egypt on October 3, and Libya on October 6.

Nahël Haddani is also continuing his rise. Arriving in Monaco in 2025 from Entente Saint-Clément Montferrier, the forward previously distinguished himself by scoring 22 goals in the U17 National Championship. In his first season with the Monaco U19s, he confirmed his effectiveness with 14 goals in 22 matches, contributing to Monaco’s journey to the semi-finals of the championship.

A U17 Moroccan international, Haddani also shone during the U17 World Cup 2025, where Morocco reached the quarter-finals. The forward finished the tournament with three goals and one assist. Now members of AS Monaco’s Elite Group, Benzahra and Haddani are thus taking another important step in their young careers.