Noureddine Amrabat Joins Utrecht at 39 After Wydad Departure

Noureddine Amrabat is back in Europe. At 39, the Moroccan veteran has signed for Dutch side Utrecht on a free transfer after a single season with Wydad Casablanca.

His return comes at the end of a turbulent spell in Morocco. Wydad, under new president Brahim El Asri, moved into a phase of strict financial austerity, cutting costs and refusing to renew a raft of contracts. Amrabat was among the high‑profile departures, leaving as the club grappled with a financial crisis that even disrupted salary payments late last season.

On the pitch, he still left a mark. Across 38 matches for Wydad, Amrabat scored 4 goals and delivered 4 assists, offering experience and craft in a side dealing with instability off it.

Utrecht announced his arrival on Tuesday in a statement on their website, confirming that the former Morocco international has earned a place in the squad after a two‑week trial. Those 14 days were enough. His fitness, touch and game intelligence convinced the technical staff to keep him on and register him for official competition.

There was a family connection helping in the background. His brother Sofyan Amrabat, who once came through Utrecht’s youth ranks, played a key role in opening the door, speaking with the club’s hierarchy to arrange the trial that led to the deal.

For Utrecht, the move brings in a versatile, battle‑hardened player whose career has taken him through the academies and first‑team environments of Ajax, Huizen and PSV. He arrives as a ready-made option who understands Dutch football and the demands of top‑level competition.

The timing is sharp. Utrecht face GA Eagles in the fifth round of the league on Saturday. Now the question is simple: does a 39-year-old with a point to prove step straight back under the Eredivisie lights?