Rafik Zekhnini

Rafik Zekhnini (born 12 January 1998) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Eliteserien club Sarpsborg 08.[1][2]

Rafik Zekhnini
Rafik Zekhnini, No. 17 on Molde's A team
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-01-12) 12 January 1998
Place of birth Skien, Norway
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Sarpsborg 08
Number 98
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Odd 46 (8)
2017–2021 Fiorentina 1 (0)
2018Rosenborg (loan) 6 (0)
2018–2020Twente (loan) 48 (6)
2020–2021Lausanne-Sport (loan) 15 (2)
2021–2023 Molde 28 (2)
2023– Sarpsborg 08 5 (0)
International career
2013 Norway U15 4 (0)
2014 Norway U16 6 (0)
2015 Norway U17 6 (0)
2015 Norway U18 4 (0)
2016–2019 Norway U21 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 September 2023

Career

Zekhnini started his career at Herøya IL, before joining the youth academy of Odds BK in 2013. He signed a professional contract with the club 12 January 2015, and made his debut in a cup match in April the same year. He made his league debut 12 July, against Rosenborg, and scored his first goal, two weeks later, in extra time against Tromsø. Zekhnini had his big breakthrough during the play-off matches in the Europa League qualification against Borussia Dortmund in August 2015. He got an assist after just 16 seconds in the first play-off match at Skagerak Arena. After those matches, he received a lot of attention from several big clubs, including Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United.

On 16 July 2017, Zekhnini signed a five-year contract with the Serie A club Fiorentina for a reported fee of €1.5 million.[3] On 4 April 2018, he returned to Norway to join Rosenborg on loan until the end of the Serie A season.[4]

On 29 August 2018, Zekhnini was loaned to the Dutch second tier team Twente on a season-long loan.[5] Zekhnini did a good performance during his one year loan playing in the Dutch second tier league. Twente won the league and was promoted to play in the Eredivisie in the 2019-20 season. In July 2019, Twente announced that Zekhnini would spend another year on loan from Fiorentina.[6]

Personal life

Zekhnini is of Moroccan descent.

Career statistics

As of 3 September 2022[7]
Club Season League Cup Europa League Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Odd 2015 Tippeligaen 1121140173
2016 Tippeligaen 2252030275
2017 Eliteserien 1311020161
Total 4684190599
Fiorentina 2017–18 Serie A 10000010
Rosenborg (loan) 2018 Eliteserien 60310091
Twente (loan) 2018–2019 Eerste Divisie 2752100296
2019–2020 Eredivisie 2111000221
Total 4863100517
Lausanne-Sport (loan) 2020–21 Swiss Super League 1520000152
Molde 2021 Eliteserien 1200000120
2022 1524150243
Total 2724150363
Career total 1431814414017122

Honours

Molde

References

  1. Rafik Zekhnini at Soccerway
  2. Rafik Zekhnini at WorldFootball.net
  3. "OFFICIAL: Fiorentina add Rafik Zekhnini". Viola Nation. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  4. "ROSENBORG LÅNER ZEKHNINI" [ROSENBORG LENDS ZEKHNINI] (in Norwegian). Rosenborg BK. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  5. "RAFIK ZEKHNINI TO FC TWENTE". www.fctwente.nl. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  6. "Nytt utlån for Rafik Zekhnini" (in Norwegian). www.tv2.no. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  7. "Rafik Zekhnini » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
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