Taha Mejni Joins Crystal Palace from Ittihad Touarga
Taha Mejni’s leap from Rabat to south London has been coming for a while. Now it is official.
Crystal Palace have confirmed the signing of the highly rated Moroccan defender from Ittihad Touarga, dropping a clear marker about the profile of talent they want running through their academy.
From Touarga’s ranks to Palace’s pathway
Mejni emerged through the youth system at Ittihad Touarga and broke into the senior side in June 2025, thrown into a high‑stakes Excellence Cup semi-final against Wydad Fez. He handled it. Touarga won, and a teenager had announced himself.
Since then his rise has been sharp. Palace describe him as “a versatile player capable of playing at centre-back or right-back”, noting that he has already featured in 17 senior matches for the Moroccan club. Fifteen of those came last season, 13 from the start, a serious workload for a defender still in his teens.
His reputation, though, was really forged in national colours.
World champion at 17
At just 17, Mejni helped Morocco’s Under-20 side produce a landmark triumph, lifting the Under-20 World Cup in Chile last year. Morocco beat Brazil, Spain, France and Argentina on the way to a first-ever title at that level, a run that turned a promising defender into a proven one on the biggest youth stage.
That success fast-tracked him into the Under-23 setup. He played twice for Morocco’s U23s in March, including a start in a 2-2 draw with Ivory Coast, another step up in physicality and expectation that he again took in his stride.
Palace’s plan for Mejni
Palace have made it clear this is a signing with a defined pathway. Mejni, who “describes himself as a defender with technical qualities who also enjoys the physical side of the game,” will join Darren Powell’s Under-21 squad. The plan is to expose him to Premier League 2, the Premier League International Cup and the EFL Trophy – three competitions, three different types of test.
Academy director Gary Issott did not hide the club’s excitement.
“Taha enjoyed an excellent 25-26 season and gained valuable experience in the Moroccan first division, and he helped Morocco win the Under-20 World Cup at just 17 years old,” Issott said, underlining both his domestic grounding and his big-tournament pedigree.
Issott’s verdict on the fit was just as pointed: “He is a multi-talented defender who impressed us with his performances, and we believe Crystal Palace is the right environment for him to continue his development. Welcome, Taha!”
For Mejni, this is a move he has clearly thought about. “Crystal Palace is one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and around the world. They have achieved a great deal in recent years, so I am very excited to begin this new adventure with the club,” he said after signing.
An emotional farewell
The excitement in London came with a lump in the throat back in Morocco. Mejni used Instagram to say goodbye to Ittihad Touarga after five formative years.
“After 5 wonderful years, the time has come for me to begin a new and important chapter in my life,” he wrote, before thanking the club “for its trust in me, for the opportunities it gave me, and for all the memories that helped me grow, both on and off the pitch.”
He reserved a special line for the coaches who shaped him, praising their “advice, their patience and their trust, which helped me grow as a player and as a person.”
Then came the dressing-room tribute. “Many thanks to my team-mates and friends. We shared unforgettable moments, and some of you became like brothers to me.”
The message was soaked in gratitude. “I leave feeling a great deal of gratitude, pride and beautiful memories. Thank you to everyone who believed in me and to those who continue to keep the club's spirit alive every day,” he stressed.
He closed with a final salute to the shirt he leaves behind: “Thank you for everything, Ittihad Tanger. I will always be proud to have worn these colours. A new page opens, but the story continues. Forever grateful.”
For Palace, that new page starts now. For Mejni, the real question is how quickly this World Cup-winning teenager can turn academy promise into Premier League reality.
