Leeds United is one of several interested parties in FC Utrecht's 25-year-old Moroccan international left-back Souffian El Karouani, whose contract is expiring and who hopes to secure a transfer this winter. VfL Wolfsburg, West Ham United, and FC Porto are also mentioned as being interested in the player. Fenerbahçe has made an official offer for El Karouani, and its proposal is reportedly the best.
A transfer for El Karouani, who has 5 caps for his country, did not happen last summer because Utrecht decided against conducting a transaction with Spartak Moscow. The defender joined Utrecht in July 2023 and has 2 goals and 9 assists in 16 Eredivisie appearances this season. Transfermarkt estimates his current market value to be €15.00m. In the summer of 2025, Utrecht's asking price was reportedly between €7 million and €12 million, after the club rejected offers of up to €7 million from Spartak Moscow, and an €8 million bid from Hoffenheim in January 2025.
