Abdellah Ouazane (; born 15 January 2009) is a professional footballer who plays as a attacking midfielder for Eredivisie club Ajax and its reserve squad Jong Ajax. Born in the Netherlands, he represents the Morocco national team.
Early life Ouazane was born in Zaandam, Netherlands, into a Moroccan family. He began his youth football development locally with Zeeburgia, in 2014 before joining the youth setup of Ajax at age seven in 2016. He signed a sponsorship agreement with sports equipment manufacturer Adidas at age fifteen.
Club career Ajax Academy and failed Real Madrid transfer Ouazane progressed rapidly through the youth ranks at De Toekomst, functioning primarily as a versatile midfielder capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, box-to-box midfielder, winger, or center forward. In 2025, a proposed transfer to Spanish club Real Madrid collapsed, after which Ouazane elected to commit his immediate professional development to Ajax.
Jong Ajax Ahead of the 2025–26 season, Ouazane was integrated into Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie. On 26 August 2025, Ajax announced he had signed a professional contract running until 30 June 2028. He scored his first professional goal in February 2026 against Willem II, and scored again in a 3–2 victory over FC Den Bosch on 13 March 2026.
Ajax On 17 December 2025, Ouazane made his competitive senior debut for Ajax in a KNVB Cup match against Excelsior. Replacing Youri Regeer in the 64th minute of a 7–2 victory, he became the sixth-youngest debutant in Ajax history at 16 years and 336 days.
During pre-season preparations in July 2026, manager Míchel praised his performances following a goal scored in a friendly against Burnley. Later that month, Ouazane made his European debut as a substitute during Ajax's UEFA Conference League qualification match against Vojvodina. A month later, on 16 August, he scored his first goal from a long-range shot in a 2–2 draw with Heerenveen.
International career Eligible to represent the Netherlands and Morocco through birth and ancestry, Ouazane initially played international youth football for both nations, earning three caps for the Netherlands U15 in 2024.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) actively recruited Ouazane as part of an updated diaspora scouting program led by technical director Chris van Puyvelde targeting line-breaking, creative midfielders. Following a multi-year recruitment effort that included hosting Ouazane and his family at the King Mohammed VI Football Academy, Ouazane committed his international future to Morocco. He was honored at the Moroccan consulate in Amsterdam in November 2023 following his debut for Morocco U15.
At the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, Ouazane scored two goals in the semi-final against Tanzania and led Morocco to the continental championship following a penalty shootout victory against Mali in the final. He was named the Man of the Competition (Player of the Tournament) by the Confederation of African Football. In November 2025, he featured for Morocco at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Ouazane was one of the players who were called up with the Morocco national team by head coach Mohamed Ouahbi for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches with Gabon and Lesotho
Style of play Ouazane is an attacking midfielder who can also operate as a winger, central midfielder, or forward. Technical scouts and coaches have noted his dribbling ability, composure under physical pressure, press resistance, and vertical passing between opposition lines.
Personal life His older brother, Zakaria Ouazane, is also a professional footballer who came through the Ajax youth academy and played alongside him at Jong Ajax.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueKNVB CupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsJong Ajax2025–26Eerste Divisie254———254Ajax2025–26Eredivisie001000—102026–27Eredivisie710050—121Total711050—131Career total325105000385
Honours Morocco U17 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations: 2025
Individual U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Man of the Competition: 2025
References
External links