Building a foundation at Selhurst Park
At 186 cm and just 22 years old, Chadi Riad Dnanou has settled into Crystal Palace's squad this season with a composure that belies his age. Across all competitions in 2025, the centre-back has made 12 appearances for the club — nine in the Premier League and three in the UEFA Europa Conference League — picking up one assist along the way.
That kind of consistent involvement at a Premier League club is no small thing for a defender his age, and it speaks to the trust Palace's coaching staff have placed in him.
Still waiting on the international stage
For Morocco, the picture is still blank this season — Riad has yet to register an appearance for the national team in 2025/26. With shirt number 18 assigned to him, the door appears open; it's simply a matter of minutes not yet arrived.
Born in Palma de Mallorca and representing Morocco internationally, Riad is one of several young defenders whose development in European football will be closely watched as the 2026 World Cup on home continent soil draws closer. Right now, the work is being done at club level, and the platform of regular Premier League football is exactly where that case gets made.