Two Moroccan prospects have taken another major step toward senior football, with Safouane Benzahra and Nahel Haddani officially signing their first professional contracts with AS Monaco.
The French club announced the agreements on Tuesday, rewarding two academy talents whose development has accelerated since arriving in Monaco in 2025.
For both players, the contracts represent an important milestone, and another sign of the growing Moroccan presence within European football academies.
Benzahra Makes a Fast Impression
Benzahra joined Monaco from NAC Breda in the summer of 2025 and quickly established himself as one of the key figures within the club’s U19 setup.
Operating in an attacking midfield role, the 18-year-old produced an impressive eight goals in 16 appearances, earning opportunities to train and play with the senior squad during pre-season.
Those performances soon translated into competitive football.
From the Academy to Ligue 1
The young midfielder featured in both legs of Monaco’s UEFA Conference League play-off tie against Górnik Zabrze, marking his first experience of competitive senior football.
His progression continued soon afterwards.
Benzahra made his Ligue 1 debut in Monaco’s impressive 2–1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, providing another important milestone in his rapid development.
From arriving at the academy to featuring against one of France’s biggest clubs, his first year in Monaco has already brought significant opportunities.
A Regular With Morocco’s Youth Teams
His progress has also been recognised internationally.
The attacking midfielder has represented Morocco at U17 and U18 level and was recently called up to the Atlas Lions’ U20 squad.
That international experience has added another dimension to his development, giving him the opportunity to continue progressing within Morocco’s youth setup while building his career in France.
Haddani Brings a Proven Scoring Record
Haddani arrived at Monaco during the same summer, joining from Saint-Clément after a remarkable final season with his former club.
The forward had scored 22 goals in the French U17 league, immediately attracting attention with his goalscoring ability.
He carried that form into his first campaign in Monaco.
Another Big Season in Monaco
The 17-year-old quickly became an important part of Monaco’s U19 side, helping the team reach the national semi-finals.
Across the campaign, he recorded 14 goals in 22 appearances, underlining his consistency in front of goal.
His performances continued to strengthen his reputation as one of the promising young Moroccan forwards developing in France.
A World Cup Stage for Haddani
His progress was not limited to club football.
Haddani played an important role in Morocco’s run to the quarter-finals of the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup, gaining valuable experience on one of the biggest stages available to young players.
He finished the tournament with three goals and one assist, directly contributing to four goals for the Atlas Cubs.
That international campaign provided another indication of his attacking potential and gave him valuable experience against some of the world's best emerging talents.
Monaco Invest in Moroccan Potential
The first professional contracts for both players represent an important moment in their respective journeys.
Benzahra has already experienced Ligue 1 and European football, while Haddani continues to develop after a prolific period with Monaco’s youth sides and Morocco’s U17 team.
Their progression also highlights the importance of European academies in developing Moroccan talent, with both prospects now taking another step toward establishing themselves at senior level.
For Benzahra and Haddani, the first professional contracts are not the destination, but an important new stage in their development as they continue to pursue a place in Monaco’s senior setup.