Taha Mejni Joins Crystal Palace Academy from Ittihad Touarga

Taha Mejni’s leap from Rabat to south London has the feel of a career-changing moment, even if he is still a teenager packing his boots for academy football.

Crystal Palace have completed the signing of the highly rated defender from Ittihad Touarga, with the 18-year-old joining Darren Powell’s Under-21 squad and stepping straight into Premier League 2, the Premier League International Cup and the EFL Trophy.

From Touarga prospect to world champion

Mejni rose through the ranks at Ittihad Touarga and made his senior debut in June 2025, thrown into the pressure of an Excellence Cup semi-final. He helped Touarga past Wydad Fez that day, a first glimpse of a defender the club quickly learned they could trust.

Palace describe him as “a versatile player capable of playing at centre-back or right-back,” a line that fits neatly with the way he has been used in Morocco. He has already played 17 times for Touarga’s first team, 15 of those last season, with 13 starts in the Moroccan top flight.

The real headline on his CV, though, came in Chile.

Mejni was part of Morocco’s historic Under-20 World Cup triumph there last year, a landmark success as the country lifted the title for the first time. Aged just 17, he helped a fearless squad knock out Brazil, Spain, France and Argentina on their way to the trophy, a run that turned heads far beyond North Africa.

That momentum carried him into the Morocco Under-23 set-up. In March, he featured in two internationals, including a start in a 2-2 draw with Ivory Coast, another step up the ladder taken without fuss.

Palace’s plan for a “multi-talented” defender

Crystal Palace’s statement paints the picture of a modern defender tailored for English football. Mejni, they say, “describes himself as a defender with technical qualities who also enjoys the physical side of the game,” a blend that fits the club’s long-standing appetite for aggressive, front-foot players who can still handle the ball.

He will now report to Powell’s Under-21 group, a side that has become an important bridge between the academy and the first team at Selhurst Park.

Palace academy director Gary Issott did not hide his admiration for the new arrival. “Taha enjoyed an excellent 25-26 season and gained valuable experience in the Moroccan first division, and he helped Morocco win the Under-20 World Cup at just 17 years old,” he said, highlighting both the volume of senior minutes and the calibre of opposition he has already faced.

Issott’s verdict was clear: “He is a multi-talented defender who impressed us with his performances, and we believe Crystal Palace is the right environment for him to continue his development. Welcome, Taha!”

“A new adventure” in south London

For Mejni, this move is more than a change of club. It is a shift in footballing world.

“Crystal Palace is one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and around the world,” he said after signing. “They have achieved a great deal in recent years, so I am very excited to begin this new adventure with the club.”

Excitement in London, emotion back home.

An emotional farewell to Ittihad Touarga

Before boarding his flight to England, Mejni took time to say goodbye properly. On Instagram, he posted a long, heartfelt message to Ittihad Touarga, the club that shaped him.

“After 5 wonderful years, the time has come for me to begin a new and important chapter in my life,” he wrote, framing the move as a step forward but not a clean break.

He thanked the club “for its trust in me, for the opportunities it gave me, and for all the memories that helped me grow, both on and off the pitch.” Coaches received special mention for their “advice, their patience and their trust,” which, he said, helped him mature “as a player and as a person.”

The dressing room bond mattered just as much. “Many thanks to my team-mates and friends,” he continued. “We shared unforgettable moments, and some of you became like brothers to me.”

Gratitude ran through every line. “I leave feeling a great deal of gratitude, pride and beautiful memories. Thank you to everyone who believed in me and to those who continue to keep the club’s spirit alive every day,” he wrote.

He signed off with a promise that his roots will not be forgotten: “Thank you for everything, Ittihad Tanger. I will always be proud to have worn these colours. A new page opens, but the story continues. Forever grateful.”

From Touarga to Palace, from Rabat to the Premier League stage. The next chapter starts in the academy, but if his rise so far is any guide, how long before Selhurst Park hears his name on a first-team teamsheet?