The Profile
At 187 cm and just 22 years old, Redouane Halhal has quietly put together one of the more reliable defensive campaigns in Belgium's top flight this season. The Montpellier-born defender, who wears shirt number 25 for Morocco, has made 33 Jupiler Pro League appearances for KV Mechelen in 2025 — a figure that speaks to the trust his club has placed in him week in, week out.
Those 33 appearances also brought 1 goal and 2 assists, a modest but meaningful attacking contribution from a defender who clearly isn't content to stay on his own side of the pitch. For a centre-back of his age, consistent top-flight minutes at this level represent solid, meaningful development.
What makes Halhal's season notable in the context of this site is the gap that remains: despite his club form, he has yet to make an appearance for Morocco's national team this season. The shirt number 25 is assigned, the eligibility is there — but the call-up minutes have not yet followed.
Whether that changes remains to be seen. For now, Halhal's story this season is one of a young defender doing the unglamorous work of earning attention one league appearance at a time.