Morocco’s World Cup star Ismael Saibari joins Bayern Munich from PSV Eindhoven on a five-year deal. Transfer fee could reach €55 million. Read more here!
Ismael Saibari, the Morocco midfielder, has joined Bayern Munich after a notable performance in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Saibari, who previously played for PSV Eindhoven, signed a five-year deal with the German club. His transfer fee could potentially reach €55 million.
Saibari’s journey to professional football has been marked by overcoming early challenges. Born with a congenital foot deformity, doctors initially told his parents he might never walk properly. He required a brace-like device as a baby and toddler to stand and move. His mother’s prayers were for him to have a normal life, not necessarily to become a football player.
He took his first steps at two years old and soon developed a passion for football, kicking a ball with local youth teams in Terrassa, Spain. The family later moved to Belgium in 2007 due to the financial crisis in Spain, where his father’s job was at risk and his mother’s shop could not sustain them.
Saibari’s club and international career
Saibari’s club career saw a six-year progression at PSV Eindhoven, moving from PSV Jong in the Dutch second tier to become a key first-team player. He was instrumental in PSV winning three consecutive Eredivisie titles between 2023 and 2026. His contributions included double-digit combined goals and assists in each campaign, culminating in him receiving the 2026 Eredivisie Player of the Year award.
For Morocco, Saibari has earned 34 caps and scored 12 goals. He holds triple citizenship—Spanish, Belgian, and Moroccan—but chose to represent his parents’ homeland. He was part of the Morocco squad that won the 2025 Afcon title. In the FIFA World Cup 2026, he scored three goals during the group stage and converted the decisive penalty in a shootout against the Netherlands, sending Morocco into the last 16.
Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund praised Saibari’s versatility, intensity, and goal-scoring ability, noting that he embodies the hunger the club seeks. PSV head coach Peter Bosz described Saibari as a special person and player, highlighting his knack for getting into scoring positions with high efficiency. Former Morocco head coach Walid Regragui commended Saibari’s discipline and professionalism.
Emotional World Cup moment
After Morocco secured their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, Saibari sprinted to the stands at the Estadio Monterrey in Mexico to embrace his mother. This emotional moment, captured on video, resonated widely across social media. His mother, overwhelmed with emotion, cried as they shared a hug and forehead kisses.
This embrace was particularly poignant given Saibari’s childhood struggles. His mother’s tears reflected years of fear and hope, remembering the doctors’ initial prognosis that he might never walk. For her, watching him score the winning penalty against a strong team like the Netherlands was a testament to his journey from a child with a severe deformity to a World Cup hero.
Saibari wears the No. 34 shirt at club level as a tribute to Abdelhak ‘Appie’ Nouri, a former Ajax midfielder whose career ended tragically. Morocco is set to face Canada in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on July 4.
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Source: bundesliga.com
