Noussair Mazraoui

Ajax

Mazraoui grew up in Alphen aan den Rijn and started playing for local club AVV Alphen at age 4. He moved to Alphense Boys three years later, where he only played for a year, before being invited to play in the youth academy of Ajax. He made his professional debut with Jong Ajax on 12 August 2016 in an Eerste Divisie game against Almere City, replacing Richairo Živković after 86 minutes. On 4 February 2018, he made his Eredivisie debut, coming off the bench to substitute David Neres, in a 3–1 victory over NAC Breda. In the following season, on 2 October 2018, he scored his first Champions League goal in a 1–1 away draw against Bayern Munich, followed by the only goal in the 92nd minute of stoppage time in a 1–0 victory over Benfica on 23 October. On 16 December 2018, he netted his first Eredivisie goal in an 8–0 thrashing of De Graafschap. During his breakthrough season, he was named Ajax Talent of the Year, in which he won the domestic double with the club, played in the Champions League semi-finals, and scored four goals in a total of 48 matches. On 25 October 2020, Mazraoui scored his third Champions League goal in a 3–1 victory against Midtjylland, in which Ajax eventually managed to win another domestic double in the 2020–21 season. In the 2021–22 Champions League, he was part of the team which won all their six matches in the group stage. In his last season at Ajax, he managed to score five goals, all in the league, and provide four assists in 35 matches…

Mazraoui was eligible to represent the Netherlands or Morocco at international level. He played youth international football for Morocco at under-20 level. He made his debut for the senior Morocco national team in September 2018, against Malawi. On 10 November 2021, Mazraoui revealed that the relationship between him and Moroccan national team coach Vahid Halilhodžić had deteriorated following a clash. On 13 March 2022, Mazraoui and his Morocco teammate, Hakim Ziyech, both rejected Halilhodžić's invitation to represent Morocco in a World Cup qualification match against DR Congo. He later returned to the national team after Halilhodžić was replaced by Walid Regragui and was named in Morocco's 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He played a big role in Morocco's run to the semi-finals, helping them become the first African side to reach this stage at a World Cup. On 28 December 2023, Mazraoui was among the 27 players selected by coach Walid Regragui to represent Morocco in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He was also included in the squad called up for 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Mazraoui helped Morocco, the host nation, advance to the final, where they faced Senegal who defeated Morocco 1-0. However, in March 2026, the result was overturned due to the Senegal players walking off the pitch to protest a refereeing decision, handing Morocco the title. On 26 May 2026, Mazraoui was selected for the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Renowned for his versatility, Mazraoui can play in several positions, but is most comfortable playing on the right side of defence. His versatility and mastery of the basics of football led to former United manager Erik ten Hag starting him as an attacking midfielder in a UEFA Europa League tie against Fenerbahçe. During the tenure of Ruben Amorim, he featured as both a right-sided centre-back and a right wing-back in Amorim’s signature 3-4-3 formation.

Mazraoui was born in Leiderdorp in the Netherlands to Moroccan parents from Tétouan Province. He is a devout Muslim.