Amrabat: Precision passing and defensive stability

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Sofyan1920 (1)

Sofyan Amrabat has returned to the Netherlands. Following the termination of his contract with Fenerbahçe, the Morocco international is now officially an Ajax player. The 30-year-old midfielder signed a deal on Saturday that will keep him at the club until mid-2028. A full introduction may not be necessary, as Amrabat is no stranger to the Eredivisie. Nevertheless, we take a closer look at his most recent seasons abroad.

Date: 30.08.2026

Photographer: AFC Ajax

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Amrabat made his breakthrough in professional football at FC Utrecht. In 2014, he made his first-team debut under Rob Alflen. It was former Ajax coach Erik ten Hag who recognised his potential and turned the defensive midfielder into a key figure for the side. From the 2016/17 season onwards, the Moroccan became a regular starter in Utrecht. After an impressive campaign, he earned a move to Feyenoord.

Reunited with Ten Hag
Via spells at Feyenoord, Club Brugge, Hellas Verona and Fiorentina, Amrabat was reunited with Ten Hag at Manchester United in 2023. Of all the coaches he has worked under, he has played most often for Ten Hag, making 80 appearances under the Dutchman. Following his time in England, Amrabat went on to represent Fenerbahçe and Real Betis.


One striking aspect of his time at his last four clubs is his consistently high passing accuracy. Since joining Fiorentina in the 2020/21 season, his passing accuracy has never dropped below 88 per cent. Last season at Real Betis, it reached an impressive 91.1 per cent. That places him alongside Barcelona midfielders Frenkie de Jong (94.2) and Pedri (91.7), as well as Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga (91.9) and Aurélien Tchouaméni (91.5). Impressive company to be in.

Ball recoveries
His passing is not the only statistic that stands out. Amrabat also ranked among La Liga's top performers for ball recoveries last season. Playing for Real Betis, he averaged 6.8 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, with only Athletic Club's Íñigo Ruiz de Galarreta posting a higher figure.

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One final statistic from Amrabat's recent seasons speaks volumes. During his time at Fenerbahçe in 2024/2025, he ranked among the league's best for carries. These are progressive runs with the ball at his feet. In Turkey, he averaged 17.5 carries per 90 minutes, the second-highest average of any player in the competition.

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