In front of a packed Philips Stadion, PSV said goodbye to Ismael Saibari on Sunday, August 23, 2026, before kickoff against FC Groningen. The Eindhoven club organized an official farewell moment, complete with a lap of honor around the pitch, giving supporters one last chance to applaud the midfielder who had become a familiar face over several seasons.
PSV bid farewell to Ismael Saibari before kickoff on Sunday, honoring the midfielder with a lap of honor around Philips Stadion.
Saibari’s presence in Eindhoven that day was notable given his new commitments. Just a day earlier, he had made his official debut for Bayern München in the German Supercup against Borussia Dortmund, a match Bayern won 2-1. Rather than traveling back to Munich with his new teammates, Saibari used the training-free Sunday to return to the club where he built his reputation, arriving in time for the tribute PSV had planned.
The move to Bayern came this summer in a deal reportedly worth 55 million euros, a figure that stands as a club record for PSV. Saibari signed a five-year contract in Munich, and the transfer is regarded as one of the biggest outgoing deals in PSV’s history. For a club that has developed several talents over the years, losing a player of Saibari’s profile for this kind of fee marked a significant moment. With his departure, PSV’s midfield now leans further on other emerging talents from the region, including Morocco international Bilal El Khannouss, who has also drawn attention as a rising star for the Atlas Lions.
During the pre-match ceremony, PSV presented Saibari with a bouquet of flowers and a framed shirt, small gestures meant to mark his contribution to the club. Fans had been encouraged in advance to arrive early so they wouldn’t miss the tribute, and many did, singing his name and holding up a banner in his honor as he walked around the field.
Statistically, Saibari leaves behind a strong record. According to a German report, he featured in 142 official matches for PSV, scoring 42 goals and providing 29 assists. Those numbers reflect a player who contributed consistently at both ends of the pitch, not just as a creator but as a reliable source of goals himself. Beyond his club exploits, Saibari has also become a key figure for the Atlas Lions, Morocco’s national team, further boosting his standing among the country’s rising football talents.
PSV described his departure as the natural conclusion of several successful years in Eindhoven, framing the ceremony less as a farewell and more as recognition of what he had achieved. For Saibari, the day offered a brief pause between two chapters, closing one before fully turning to life in Munich.
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