Schalke 04 midfielder El-Faouzi, 24, has chosen to represent Morocco over Germany, despite reported discussions with German officials, after his Burundi friendly appearance left a switch technically open.
Because the Burundi match was a friendly, El-Faouzi technically retained the possibility of switching to Germany afterward. Reports indicated that German officials held discussions with the player about a potential change of allegiance following the fixture. He ultimately chose to remain with Morocco, citing his family roots and the positive experience of his first call-up.
His football education took place largely in Germany. He began in the youth ranks of SC Paderborn 07, where he played three matches and scored once for the under-19 side. He then moved to Fortuna Düsseldorf II from 2022 to 2024, before joining Alemannia Aachen, where he recorded 37 appearances, three goals and five assists. Schalke 04 signed him in 2025 on a contract reportedly running until 2030, though other sources list different contract terms. This mirrors the path of other footballers with dual heritage backgrounds, such as Mohamed Chibi, who have navigated similar decisions about international allegiance.
At Schalke, El-Faouzi wears the number 23 and plays as a central midfielder. Tuttosport figures credit him with 36 appearances, two goals and five assists for the club. At the start of the 2026-27 season, Goal.com reported he had started in four matches. Standing around 1.78 meters and right-footed, the 24-year-old brings a physical, defensively disciplined profile shaped by his development in German football.
Following his debut, El-Faouzi said his integration with the Moroccan squad went smoothly and praised his relationship with head coach Mohamed Ouahbi. He has been included in Morocco’s 29-man squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, which includes a match against Gabon in Rabat on September 25 and a fixture against Lesotho shortly after.
A competitive appearance in either of these matches would permanently tie El-Faouzi’s international future to Morocco under FIFA eligibility rules. The midfielder said he wants to earn more playing time and “fight for his country” as he looks to establish himself within Ouahbi’s squad.
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