West Ham United and Leeds United are said to have a “concrete interest” in FC Utrecht standout Soufian El Carouani as the race to sign the Moroccan international intensifies ahead of the summer transfer window.
According to african feetthe highly rated left-back caught the eye of several Premier League scouts following a series of “amazing” performances in the Eredivisie.
Sufian El Karouani is wanted by West Ham and Leeds
Recent rumors have strongly linked El Caruani with a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qadisia, but sources close to the player’s inner circle have moved to dismiss those reports.
According to Africa Foot, no formal contract has been signed and there is no “final contract” with any Saudi club at this stage.
The player is said to be favoring a move to the Premier League instead. Leeds United and West Ham are both “looking closely” at their defenders in order to strengthen their defensive options ahead of next season.
However, the person stressed that the interest is currently at an early stage. “So far, this is just an interest. No details have been discussed about a possible deal or the financial situation.”
Who is Sufian El Qalani?
The 25-year-old left-back had a sensational 2025/26 season in the Netherlands.
Known for his immense attacking power from his defensive role, El Caruani played in 40 games across all competitions this season, scoring an astonishing 16 assists and 3 goals, taking his total for the club to 28 assists and 5 goals.
| club | Appearance | the goal | assist |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEC Nijmegen | 114 | 6 | 12 |
| FC Utrecht | 108 | 5 | 28 |
| NEC Nijmegen U19 | 38 | 3 | 2 |
| total | 260 | 14 | 42 |
El Caruani, who was born in the Netherlands but represents Morocco at international level, has won five caps for the Atlas Lions.
His current contract with Utrecht is due to expire in June 2026, making this potentially a very attractive offer for Premier League clubs looking for a bargain.
El Caruani is highly regarded for his cross accuracy and ability to attack the back line, giving him the perfect profile for a modern-day Premier League full-back.
With West Ham and Leeds currently locked in a relegation battle, their final league position will likely determine whether their interest is cemented with a formal offer in the coming weeks.
