Hamburger SV Seeks Zakaria El Ouahdi Amid Genk's Firm Stance

Hamburger SV have an agreement in place with Zakaria El Ouahdi – now they just need to find one with Genk.

HLN report that the Moroccan international has settled personal terms with the Bundesliga club, underlining his determination to move to Germany and take the next step in his career. The 24-year-old wants Hamburg. The problem sits with Genk’s negotiating stance.

Hamburg have already lodged three separate bids for the attacking full-back. All three have been rejected by the Belgian side, who are in no rush to lose one of their most productive players. With El Ouahdi’s desire to leave clear, the tug of war has moved from “if” to “how much”.

Genk’s reluctance is easy to understand. El Ouahdi has grown into one of the standout attacking full-backs in Belgian football over the last few seasons. His first year at Genk was solid rather than spectacular, but the picture changed the moment Daniel Muñoz left for Crystal Palace. A vacancy opened on the flank; El Ouahdi grabbed it.

In the 2024/25 campaign he played 40 games, scoring eight goals and adding two assists – strong numbers for a defender. Last season he climbed another level: 12 goals and five assists in 45 appearances, production that would catch the eye of any data department in Europe, never mind a club like Hamburg looking for thrust from deep.

For HSV, preparing for their second season back in the Bundesliga, this is exactly the profile they want: a full-back who can drive play, arrive in the box and change games in the final third. For El Ouahdi, it is the chance to test himself in one of Europe’s top leagues.

All that remains is the hard part – two clubs agreeing a price. With the player pushing for the move and Hamburg clearly committed, the question now is how long Genk can resist before the numbers finally add up.