Zakaria El Ouahdi appeared to bid an emotional, tearful farewell to K.R.C. Genk fans following Thursday's 4-0 victory over SK Beveren at the Cegeka Arena. The 24-year-old right-back, who joined the club in 2023, was comforted by teammates and technical staff as the home crowd chanted his name. According to a report by Sporza Voetbal, the Moroccan international is poised to leave the club for a transfer to German side Hamburg.
Jess Thorup's team took an important step in the Jupiler Pro League with this win, as Genk currently sits fourth with seven points from four matches. Their recent form has been mixed, with a sequence of win, draw, win, and loss. The attack has been productive with twelve goals scored, but the defence has conceded eight, resulting in a goal difference of plus four. Genk trails league leaders Club Brugge by two points in the early season.
Is the move to Hamburg finalized?
A final agreement between K.R.C. Genk and Hamburg is not yet in place. Personal terms between El Ouahdi and the German club have been agreed in principle, as confirmed by his father and agent Mohamed Achahbar to Sporza. "We want to take this step and are waiting for an agreement between the clubs," Achahbar said. The player himself also does not have a final signed contract, with some details still pending.
El Ouahdi's contract with Genk still has two years to run, strengthening the club's negotiating position. Interest from foreign clubs has been strong all summer. Thorup did not want to comment much on the matter after the match. "It is not my job to say anything about that. It is something the club will decide," the coach stated. He added that he has often spoken with the defender and that transfer rumours have circulated since his arrival.
What does this mean for Genk's defence?
El Ouahdi's departure would be a significant loss for Genk's backline. He developed into a key player at the club and earned a call-up to the Moroccan national team. The club may have prepared for this by signing new right-back Kevin Amaro. The composition of the defence will be a key focus in the coming weeks, especially ahead of the difficult away fixture against RSC Anderlecht on September 6th. Anderlecht currently sits tenth.
For the match against Beveren, Thorup chose to start El Ouahdi. "He is a fighter who always wants to fight," said the coach, who was proud of the team's performance. Genk controlled the game, scored four good goals, and kept a clean sheet. The current league standings can always be followed on our standings page.
How did the team and fans react?
The emotional reaction from El Ouahdi after the final whistle was clearly visible to everyone in the stadium. Teammate Matte Smets and others offered him comfort. The sustained support from the stands, where his name was chanted loudly, underscored his popularity with the supporters. This scene fueled the strong suspicion that this was his final appearance in blue and white.
The coming days are decisive for the defender's future. While the club management negotiates with Hamburg, the team prepares for the top match against Anderlecht. The squad for that game can be found in our squad overview. A potential departure of El Ouahdi would drastically alter the defensive picture for that clash and the rest of the season. Genk must combine its potent attack, responsible for twelve goals, with more defensive stability in the coming weeks to avoid losing touch with the top.
