Moroccan Moncef Zekri Opts for Sporting Despite PSV’s Interest

In the end, it came down to project over proximity. Moncef Zekri, the 17-year-old Moroccan left-back at KV Mechelen, has agreed to join Sporting CP, with his move to Lisbon expected in the coming days. According to Belgian transfer journalist Sacha Tavolieri, the youngster accepted a four-year contract proposal from the Portuguese club, choosing their long-term development plan over interest from PSV and Ajax in the Eredivisie.

Moncef Zekri chose Sporting’s project over proximity, agreeing to a four-year deal and turning down interest from PSV and Ajax.

Zekri operates as a left-back or left wing-back, a position where his composure and defensive discipline have made him one of Mechelen’s most promising academy products. Known in Belgian media as the “Mechelse goudhaantje,” or Mechelen’s golden boy, he had already renewed his contract with the club until mid-2028, a sign of how highly he was regarded before this transfer saga began. He is also a Morocco U-17 international, a detail that has drawn attention from scouts across Europe, including reported past interest from Inter Milan. Like many talents developed abroad, Zekri reflects a broader trend of Morocco’s diaspora fueling the country’s football pipeline at every level, a pipeline that has also produced left-back Adam Aznou as another rising star for the Atlas Lions.

Financially, the deal is structured around a fixed fee of €3.5 million, with additional bonuses tied to performance objectives that could push the final value closer to Mechelen’s own valuation of around €4 million on Transfermarkt. Negotiations between the two clubs are reported to be largely settled, with only final formalities remaining before the transfer is completed.

PSV’s interest was described as genuine and serious, with Dutch reports characterizing the club as “zeer geïnteresseerd,” or very interested, in bringing Zekri to Eindhoven. However, their chances were always considered slim once Sporting entered advanced talks, having tracked the player for an extended period and monitored his progress closely before submitting a formal bid. The Portuguese club’s insistence throughout the process ultimately proved decisive.

For PSV, the outcome reflects a broader pattern in the Eredivisie transfer market, where clubs often compete for the same pool of young defensive talent but lose out to bigger financial or developmental offers. For Sporting, the signing reinforces their reputation as a club capable of attracting and developing promising teenage prospects, positioning Zekri as another building block in their long-term recruitment strategy.