Villarreal have closed the door on an Ilias Akhomach exit this summer, choosing instead to build around the winger for the 2026-27 season. According to recent reporting, the club has communicated internally that it intends to count on the Moroccan international for the coming campaign, viewing him as a useful piece for the squad rather than a player to be moved on for a quick profit.
Villarreal see Akhomach as a piece to build around for 2026-27, not one to cash in on quickly.
That stance has not deterred outside interest. Espanyol have shown concrete interest in signing Akhomach, with reports indicating the Catalan club are exploring a loan move rather than a permanent deal. Espanyol have reportedly tracked the winger for weeks, with some coverage noting that interest dates back to January.
Olympique de Marseille have also been linked, and some reports group the French club alongside Espanyol as sides who have asked about a loan arrangement. Sevilla were mentioned earlier in the year as another club monitoring his situation. Akhomach’s development alongside fellow Moroccan talent Abdessamad Ezzalzouli has often been cited as evidence of the depth emerging within the Atlas Lions’ pool of young wingers.
Despite this attention, Villarreal‘s position has remained consistent. The club holds significant leverage given that Akhomach is under contract until 2028, a term that limits any urgency to sell. Reports have placed his estimated value around €10 million, but Villarreal’s approach appears tied more to his role within the squad than to any short-term financial incentive.
Part of the context behind the cautious handling relates to his recovery from injury. Akhomach suffered a serious knee injury in November 2024, including damage to his ACL and medial ligament, which kept him out for more than nine months. He returned to action for Villarreal in a La Liga match against Girona on 24 August 2025. His rise through the ranks and emergence as a key figure for Morocco’s national team have made him a player regarded as one of the Atlas Lions’ brightest young talents.
By August 2026, he was considered fully integrated into the club’s plans for the new season, having proven his fitness over time.
The broader transfer picture, then, is straightforward. Espanyol want him, and the interest from Marseille adds further pressure, but Villarreal want to keep him. Reports suggest the club has effectively resisted approaches so far, with no formal agreement or bid materializing. For now, Akhomach remains a Villarreal player, expected to feature as part of the club’s plans heading into 2026-27.
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