Noureddine Amrabat Returns to Europe with Utrecht

Noureddine Amrabat is back in Europe. At 39, after a single turbulent season with Wydad Casablanca, the Moroccan veteran has signed for Dutch side Utrecht on a free transfer.

It is a return that almost didn’t happen. Wydad, gripped by a financial crisis that disrupted salary payments late last season, moved into austerity mode under new management led by Brahim El Asri. Contracts were cut, big names were allowed to walk, and Amrabat found himself among those not retained.

He left with respectable numbers for a wide player in the twilight of his career: 38 matches, 4 goals, 4 assists. But more telling than the statistics was the context — a club tightening its belt and a seasoned professional suddenly back on the market.

Utrecht moved smartly. After bringing him in on trial, they needed only two weeks of training to be convinced. The coaching staff liked what they saw; the legs, the experience, the edge were still there. On Tuesday, the club confirmed on their website that Amrabat had signed and is now cleared to play in official competition.

The deal carried a family fingerprint. His younger brother, Sofyan Amrabat, once part of Utrecht’s youth system, used his connections at the club to help arrange the trial. The door opened, Noureddine walked through it, and did the rest on the training pitch.

For Utrecht, this is not just a romantic signing. They are getting a versatile, battle-tested player whose football education took shape at Ajax, Huizen and PSV before his long career across Europe and beyond. He can operate across the frontline or tuck into midfield, read the game, manage tempo, and guide younger teammates through tight moments.

The timing is sharp. Utrecht head into a fifth-round league clash with GA Eagles on Saturday, and Amrabat is now an option. Whether he starts or comes from the bench, a 39-year-old with that résumé and that competitive streak suddenly gives Utrecht a very different look.