A verbal handshake now stands between Couhaib Driouech and a move to Spain. Celta Vigo has emerged as the frontrunner to sign the 24-year-old Moroccan winger from PSV Eindhoven, with Dutch media reporting that the two clubs have reached a broad agreement on the terms of a permanent transfer. The fee under discussion sits close to eight million euros, a figure that appears to satisfy PSV’s demands after weeks of negotiation.
A verbal handshake now stands between Couhaib Driouech and Celta Vigo, with a permanent transfer near eight million euros nearing completion.
The dossier has shifted considerably since Celta Vigo first showed interest on 7 August 2026. At that stage, the Spanish club was still weighing a loan move, hoping to test the player before committing to a larger investment. Within days, though, Celta’s stance hardened. By 8 August, reports indicated that PSV had already rejected an offer from Rangers, judging it insufficient, and that Celta had strengthened its position as the leading candidate.
PSV’s approach throughout August 2026 has been to weigh multiple exit options for Driouech while insisting on a fee near eight million euros. The Dutch club holds strong leverage in these talks, given that the player remains under contract until the summer of 2029. That long-term deal has allowed PSV to dictate much of the pace, even as it has granted Celta time to sort out personal terms with the player. Like many Atlas Lions, Driouech is part of Morocco’s diaspora, having developed his footballing career outside the country of his national team.
Driouech himself has been described as open to leaving, provided the clubs settle their business first. Some reports suggest he holds a personal preference for a move to Vigo, which would help explain why talks have progressed so quickly once Celta shifted its approach from a loan to a full transfer. Morocco’s attacking options have been bolstered in recent years by the emergence of established stars like goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, whose success abroad has paved the way for more Moroccan talents to pursue careers in Europe’s top leagues.
What remains outstanding is the personal side of the deal: salary expectations and contract length still need to be finalized between Driouech and Celta Vigo. PSV has made clear that any transfer depends on this agreement being reached, alongside the club-to-club fee already largely settled. Until then, the move cannot be considered complete, though all signs point toward Celta Vigo closing in on one of its top offensive targets of the summer window.
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