Morocco’s Azzedine Ounahi Returns to Panathinaikos on Four-Year Deal After Successful Athens Spell

Azzedine Ounahi has completed a permanent return to Panathinaikos, signing a four-year contract until the summer of 2030. The deal, confirmed on 2 September 2026, is reported at €14-15 million, potentially rising to €16 million with add-ons, making it a club-record fee. Girona reportedly retained a sell-on clause. The Morocco international rejoins after a loan spell and a stint in Spain. The full financial and contractual details reveal more about the move’s significance.

Azzedine Ounahi has completed a permanent move back to Panathinaikos, signing a four-year contract that ties the Moroccan midfielder to the Athens club until the summer of 2030. The move ends his time at Girona, with Panathinaikos confirming the agreement on 2 September 2026.

The transfer has been widely reported in the region of €14–15 million, which would make it a club-record fee for Panathinaikos. Some reports suggest the deal, including add-ons, could rise to around €16 million, with Girona reportedly retaining a sell-on clause. Ounahi’s salary is understood to sit between €3 million and €3.5 million per year, with bonuses potentially pushing his earnings closer to €3.6 million annually.

This marks Ounahi’s second spell at Panathinaikos. He first arrived in Athens during the 2024–25 season on loan from Marseille, a temporary move that preceded his 2025 switch to Girona, where he had originally signed a contract running until June 2030. That deal has now been cut short by his return to Greece, this time on a permanent, long-term basis rather than a loan. Ounahi first rose to prominence on the international stage during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where Morocco reached the semi-finals and finished fourth. On the national team, Ounahi is part of a group of box-to-box midfielders that includes Bilal El Khannouss, with both players seen as key components of Morocco’s evolving midfield structure.

His previous season with Panathinaikos was productive. Ounahi made 45 appearances across all competitions, contributing seven goals and eight assists while playing 2,845 minutes. The team won 29 matches and lost nine during that campaign, with the midfielder a regular fixture in both domestic league and cup fixtures.

Primarily deployed as a central or attacking midfielder, Ounahi has been used to link play between midfield and attack, drawing praise from club media and supporters, who have referred to him as a “magician” for his dribbling and passing range. His versatility has allowed Panathinaikos to use him in deeper midfield roles as well as more advanced positions, depending on tactical needs.

In its announcement, Panathinaikos framed the signing as part of an effort to strengthen the squad as the club aims to return to the top of Greek football and compete more prominently in European competition. Ounahi’s shift from a loan player to a permanent, long-term midfield presence reflects the club’s intention to build around him as a central figure moving forward.