The Portuguese giants are reportedly preparing to extend Moncef Zekri’s contract for another five years, keeping the Moroccan at the club until the summer of 2031 and placing an €80 million release clause in the new agreement.
The move comes as the youngster reaches the age of 18, opening the door for a longer professional contract under European regulations.
Sporting Prepare a Long-Term Commitment
The proposed renewal represents a major show of confidence from the Lisbon club.
By extending the deal until 2031, Sporting would give themselves a significant degree of protection around a player who has already attracted attention through his performances at youth international level.
The €80 million release clause would also place a substantial financial barrier in front of European clubs interested in making an approach for the left-back.
For a player still at the beginning of his professional journey, such a clause reflects the long-term expectations surrounding his development.
From Belgium to Lisbon
The Moroccan joined Sporting after making his name with Belgian side Mechelen, with the Portuguese club reportedly paying around €3.5 million to secure his services.
The move to Lisbon marked an important step in his development, placing him inside one of Portugal’s most recognised football academies and giving him an environment built around developing young talent.
Now, with his 18th birthday arriving on 20 September 2026, the club is ready to formalise a much longer commitment.
A Moroccan Talent Forged With the Atlas Cubs
Much of the excitement surrounding the youngster comes from his performances with Morocco’s U17 national team.
He played an important role in the Atlas Cubs’ successful campaign at the 2025 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations, where Morocco lifted the continental title under head coach Nabil Baha.
That triumph placed a new generation of Moroccan players firmly in the spotlight, with the left-back emerging as one of the young talents capable of making the transition from international youth football to the European game.
A World Cup Quarter-Finalist
His progress with Morocco did not stop at the continental level.
The defender also helped the Atlas Cubs reach the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, giving him valuable experience on one of the biggest stages available to players in his age group.
Those performances have contributed to his growing reputation and helped strengthen the belief that he can eventually become an important figure at senior level.
Sporting See More Than a Young Prospect
For Sporting, the proposed renewal is about protecting an investment. but also about securing a player whose development could become increasingly valuable over the coming years.
The combination of a contract running until 2031 and an €80 million release clause would give the club considerable control over his future while allowing the youngster time to continue developing in Lisbon.
For Moroccan football, meanwhile, his progress represents another encouraging sign of the growing presence of young Atlas talents in Europe's major development systems.
At 18, the next stage of his journey is only beginning. Sporting's decision to commit to him for the long term shows that the club sees significant potential in the Moroccan defender, now it will be about turning that potential into a sustained career at the highest level.