Championship side Hull City are on the cusp of signing highly-rated youngster Reda Laalaoui after agreeing a fee with his club FUS Rabat.
A 20-year-old Moroccan box-to-box midfielder, Laalaoui has impressed at various age groups since bursting onto the scene at Under-14 level and has been monitored by City for the past few months.
It’s expected that the Under-20 international will seal a permanent move to the MKM Stadium and link up initially with the club’s Under-21 setup managed by Conor Sellars at Bishop Burton College.
The right-footed performer, who has been likened to Jude Bellingham for his energetic displays and ability to carry the ball through the thirds, has been cutting his teeth in the country’s top division.
In his 21 outings for the young Moroccan national side, he’s bagged six goals, including one in the 2025 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations against Kenya in a 3-2 win. That goal came on the way to securing a semi-final place against hosts Egypt on Thursday night.
Impressed with his progress and to protect themselves against interest from Europe last summer, Rabat signed him up to a new, improved deal that runs until 2026 with an agreement that he would move on this summer. It’s thought they have inserted a hefty sell-on clause.
Laalaoui made 23 appearances for Rabat in the Botola Pro Inwi this season, scoring four times and collecting three assists with his last outing coming in a 2-2 draw with Moghreb Tetouan back in April when he was deployed in the centre of midfield. At times this term, he’s played out wide and as an attacking midfielder, as well as in the centre of the park.
While Laalaoui is expected to seal a move to the MKM Stadium, it’s understood there is no truth to reports that his Rabat teammate Yahya Benkhaleq could also be joining the East Yorkshire club.