Moroccan international Sofiane Boufal has signed a two-year contract with Libya’s Al-Ittihad as a free agent, joining after his deal with Le Havre expired.
The 32-year-old signed a two-year contract after his deal with French club Le Havre expired at the end of last season, leaving him a free agent. Al-Ittihad announced the move through official social media channels, including a presentation video and welcome message marking his arrival in Tripoli.
The transfer marks Boufal’s first professional experience on the African continent after a career spent almost entirely in Europe and the Middle East. He came through the youth ranks at Angers before moving on to Lille, Southampton, Celta Vigo, Union Saint-Gilloise, Al-Rayyan and, most recently, Le Havre, taking in spells in France, England, Spain, Belgium and Qatar. Throughout his career, Boufal has been recognized for his skill and flair as an attacking player, traits that have followed him across each of these leagues.
Multiple outlets place his annual salary at around 5 million dollars, or roughly 4.3 million euros, with some reports citing figures above 4 million euros per year. That reported salary placed Boufal among the highest-paid footballers on the continent and reportedly helped Al-Ittihad win out over interest from clubs in France’s second division and La Liga.
On the international stage, Boufal has earned 47 caps and scored 8 goals for Morocco, contributing to his reputation as one of the country’s more recognizable attacking players in recent years. He is known primarily as an attacking midfielder or winger, a role Al-Ittihad’s club media has emphasized in describing him as a creative presence for the squad.
His final season at Le Havre included 17 appearances, one goal and four assists before his contract ran out. Al-Ittihad has presented the signing as part of a broader push to strengthen its squad for upcoming domestic and continental competitions, framing Boufal as a marquee addition meant to add experience and creativity to the attack. The move also reflects a wider trend of North African clubs offering substantial salaries to attract established international players to the region.
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