West Ham United will reportedly look to sign 25-year-old Moroccan international Souffian El Karouani from Eredivisie club FC Utrecht.

According to a report by Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Souffian El Karouani is the subject of interest from West Ham United. The Hammers are keen on bolstering their defensive unit by signing a left-back in the winter transfer window. So, the 25-year-old FC Utrecht full-back has a target for the East London outfit.

Apart from West Ham, Bologna FC, Eintracht Frankfurt, FC Porto, and SL Benfica are also keen on signing the Netherlands-born full-back from FC Utrecht. So, a winter move away from the Eredivisie club may be on the cards for the productive wide player.

Who is Souffian El Karouani?

Souffian El Karouani has established himself as one of the most underrated players in the country of his birth since joining FC Utrecht from NEC Nijmegen in July 2023. A native of Den Bosch, the 25-year-old spent his formative years in the Netherlands, passing through the academies at VV TGG, FC Den Bosch, BVV Den Bosch, and Elinkwijk before graduating from the youth division at NEC Nijmegen.

The Moroccan international has garnered the reputation of “Assist King” due to his productivity from the left flank, and he has scored three goals while providing 15 assists in 28 appearances across all competitions thus far in the 2025/26 season. Meanwhile, El Karouani’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs, including West Ham United.

London calling?

West Ham United’s interest in Souffian El Karouani is perplexing. The Hammers bolstered their defensive unit by signing a left-back in the summer transfer window, and El Hadji Malick Diouf has been exceptional in the first half of the 2025/26 season. Additionally, Oliver Scarles is a solid backup left-back for West Ham.

So, it is unclear how El Karouani will fit into the scheme of things at West Ham unless they sell at least one left-back. Nevertheless, the FC Utrecht full-back is a target for the East London club, and a January move may be on the cards.

However, West Ham will not be alone in the battle for El Karouani’s signature, as Bologna FC, Eintracht Frankfurt, FC Porto, and SL Benfica are also keen on signing him. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the 25-year-old Moroccan international.