Tawfik Bentayeb (; born 14 January 2002) is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Belgian Pro League club Anderlecht and the Morocco national team.
After coming through the Mohammed VI Academy, he began his senior career with Union Touarga. He had loans to Rodez and Troyes in France's Ligue 2, winning the title and finishing as top scorer with the latter in 2025–26.
Club career Union Touarga Born in Casablanca, Bentayeb played as a youth for the Mohammed VI Academy. In 2021, it was reported that he was being tracked by Angers, Lorient and Sochaux of France, as well as Raja CA at home. After 11 years at the academy, he joined Union Touarga in the Botola Pro in 2022.
On 22 August 2024, Bentayeb was loaned to Rodez of France's Ligue 2. He played 29 league games and scored 10 goals for the club, including two on 10 March in a 5–1 home win over third-placed Dunkerque.
At the end of August 2025, Bentayeb turned down a €150,000 offer from Guingamp and instead joined fellow Ligue 2 club Troyes on loan for a €300,000 fee. He made his debut on 12 September in a 3–0 home win over AS Nancy Lorraine, scoring twice. He finished the season as top scorer with 18 goals, three ahead of Guingamp's Louis Mafouta, and his team won promotion as champions.
Anderlecht On 21 August 2026, Bentayeb signed a four-year contract with Anderlecht in Belgium. He joined for a fee of €4 million and was signed by Antoine Sibierski, who had been sporting director of Troyes the previous season. He made his debut in the Belgian Pro League nine days later as a substitute for the last 12 minutes in a 3–0 loss away to Brussels rivals Union SG. In his fourth game, on 11 September, he scored the only goal away to Mechelen.
International career Bentayeb went with the Morocco under-17 team to the 2019 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Tanzania. He scored in a draw with Senegal and a defeat to Cameroon, in a group stage elimination.
At the 2021 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Mauritania, Bentayeb was part of the Morocco team that reached the quarter-finals.
Bentayeb was included in a preliminary Morocco squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He made his debut on 26 May in a 5–0 friendly win at home to Burundi, scoring once and assisting twice.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsUnion Touarga2021–22Botola Pro0010—102022–23Botola Pro22511—2362023–24Botola Pro26900—2692024–25Botola Pro——1010Total481421105115Rodez (loan)2024–25Ligue 2291011—3011Troyes (loan)2025–26Ligue 2281832—3120Anderlecht2026–27Belgian Pro League52001062Career total11044642011848
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsMorocco202611Total11
Scores and results list Morocco's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bentayeb goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Tawfik BentayebNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 26 May 2026 Mohammed VI Football Complexe, Salé, Morocco 3–0 5–0 Friendly
Honours Troyes Ligue 2: 2025–26
Individual Ligue 2 top scorer: 2025–26
References
External links