Zakaria El Ouahdi joins Hamburg from Genk
Morocco international Zakaria El Ouahdi has completed a move to Hamburg, the club have confirmed.
The attack-minded right-back spent the last three seasons at Belgian outfit Genk, where he made 34 league appearances during the 2025/26 campaign, registering an impressive tally of eight goals and five assists.
I’m very happy about my move to HSV. It’s a big club in Germany with a rich history,” said the Antwerp-born defender. “I can’t wait to play at the Volksparkstadion. From what I’ve heard, the stadium is always packed. I want to inspire the fans with my style of play and I promise that I will always give my best for the club.
After signing for Genk from Molenbeek in 2023, El Ouadhi quickly established himself in the club's rearguard and, via strong performances in the Belgian top tier and in Europe, earned himself a reputation as an energetic and tireless attacking full-back, which in turn led to a call-up to the Moroccan national set-up in September 2025.
He was subsequently selected for Morocco's squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026, where he made a cameo appearance as a substitute in the Atlas Lions' quarter-final defeat by France in Boston.
The defensive reinforcment comes at particularly timely moment for Hamburg, given the summer departures of William Mikelbrencis and Giorgi Gocholeishvili, who shared right wing-back duties at the Volksparkstadion last season, and the frailties at the back that were evident during HSV's 2-0 Bundesliga defeat at the hands of Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 1.
"Zaka has had an impressive career path. He worked his way up from Belgian amateur football to professional and Moroccan international, and in recent years was one of Genk's key players," said Hamburg Board Member for Sport Kathleen Krüger.
"He achieved this through his own efforts, which impressively demonstrates his ambition and potential for development. Now he's taking the leap to the Bundesliga and wants to take the next step at HSV. We look forward to embarking on this journey together and warmly welcome Zaka."
The 24-year-old will don the No. 7 shirt for Die Rothosen and will be available for selection for their upcoming Matchday 2 assignment at home to Mainz on Sunday.
