K.R.C. Genk is finalising two squad reinforcements on the final day of the transfer window with the signings of Christiaan Ravych and Benjamin Tahirovic. HLN Voetbal reported the moves on Tuesday, 29 August 2026, as the Limburg-based club sits fourth in the Jupiler Pro League with seven points from four matches.
The arrival of 24-year-old central defender Christiaan Ravych is nearly complete. He joins from Cercle Brugge, where he has played since 2021 and made over a hundred appearances. Genk was seeking defensive reinforcement, especially with Zakaria El Ouahdi potentially departing. Ravych, a Belgian youth international of Ukrainian and Kazakh descent, signed for Cercle in 2021 and had a contract there until 2027. The transfer fee is reported to be around four million euros.
Where does Ravych fit into the current defence?
Ravych has been brought in to compete with the current central defenders Matte Smets, Josue Kongolo, Elie Mbavu and Adrian Palacios. The club decided to enter the market for a new defender after previous attempts for other players, such as Niko Sigur of Hajduk Split. The situations of Mujaid Sadick, who is training individually, and goalkeeper Hendrik Van Crombrugge, who is surplus to requirements, remain unresolved. Ravych's arrival aims to bolster defensive solidity ahead of the important away fixture against Anderlecht on 6 September, which you can find on our fixtures page.
What does the arrival of Benjamin Tahirovic mean?
Alongside a defender, Genk also wanted a new defensive midfielder, a 'six'. That need is filled by Benjamin Tahirovic. The Bosnian midfielder joins on loan from Danish side Brondby, where he only arrived from Ajax last winter. The agreement for Tahirovic includes a purchase option. His medical tests were scheduled for Tuesday, 29 August. His signing strengthens the midfield in an area the squad needed, as reflected in the statistics on our stats page which show Genk has scored twelve goals but conceded eight this season.
Will Zakaria El Ouahdi remain at Genk?
A key factor in this transfer window is the potential departure of Zakaria El Ouahdi. The 24-year-old Moroccan international has, according to his agent Mohamed Achahbar, reached a personal agreement in principle with HSV Hamburg. "Er is inderdaad een akkoord met Hamburg vanuit onze kant. We willen deze stap zetten en wachten op een akkoord tussen de clubs," Achahbar said. Hamburg made a third offer on 28 August, but reports suggest it might still be insufficient. Whether the clubs reach an agreement remains unclear. El Ouahdi's departure would free up space and resources for the new arrivals.
What does this mean for the rest of the season?
With these two new players, Genk, currently two points behind leaders Club Brugge, heads into the next phase of the season. The arrivals of Ravych and Tahirovic are meant to make the squad broader and stronger for the dual challenge of the league and potential European football. The immediate focus is the away match against Anderlecht, an opponent currently in tenth place. The current league standing can always be followed on our standings page. The club hopes these reinforcements will help maintain the recent W-D-W-L form and close the gap to the top.
