Anderlecht sign Morocco striker Tawfik Bentayeb in €4.5m deal

Anderlecht have completed the signing of Morocco striker Tawfik Bentayeb from Union Touarga Sportif on a long-term contract running until 2030, in one of the most notable moves of the summer transfer window.

The Belgian club confirmed the deal on Friday through its official account on X, securing the 22-year-old forward for a fee of €4.5m including bonuses, according to French website Maxifoot.

Bentayeb has signed a four-season contract with Anderlecht, despite reportedly receiving financially more attractive offers from elsewhere. French media reports say the player chose the Belgian club because of its sporting project rather than the higher sums available from rival suitors.

“Bienvenue chez les Mauves, Tawfik Bentayeb. ★★★”

The move takes the Casablanca-born striker into his third European club after successful spells in France’s second tier. He began his professional career with Union Touarga Sportif in 2022 before moving to France, where he played on loan for Rodez and then Troyes.

Bentayeb’s breakthrough campaign came in the 2025-26 season, when he played a leading role in Troyes’ promotion to Ligue 1. He finished as the leading scorer in Ligue 2, scoring 20 goals and providing three assists in 31 appearances across all competitions.

Eighteen of those goals came in the league, underlining the scale of his contribution to Troyes’ promotion campaign and attracting interest from clubs beyond France.

Anderlecht moved quickly to secure the forward, completing what has been described as a record deal for the Moroccan prospect despite the competition for his signature. The agreement brings Bentayeb to a club whose long-term plans persuaded him to reject more lucrative proposals.

His progress at club level has not yet translated into a place in Morocco’s final squad for the 2026 World Cup. Bentayeb was included in the expanded selection but was not chosen for the tournament squad.

He has made one international appearance for Morocco, featuring in a friendly against Burundi. Morocco won that match 5-0.

The transfer gives Bentayeb the opportunity to continue his development in Belgium after a rapid rise through Moroccan and French football. At 22, he arrives at Anderlecht after a season in which he combined regular scoring with a key role in a promotion-winning side, while the club has committed to keeping him under contract until 2030.