At 25 years old, Ismaël Saibari does not arrive at Bayern Munich as a mere promise. The Moroccan leaves PSV Eindhoven to join one of the greatest clubs in Europe with an already well-established status. Bayern paid more than 50 million euros to secure his services and offered him a contract running until 2031. For Eindhoven, this represents a record transfer.
A World Cup as a catalyst
Saibari had just come off a remarkable season in the Netherlands, highlighted by 15 goals and 8 assists. Yet it was on the world stage that he truly elevated his game. During the 2026 World Cup, deployed notably in a false nine role, he scored three goals in the group stage and established himself as one of Morocco's standout revelations of the tournament.
Bayern had already identified his potential before the competition kicked off. The World Cup only confirmed — and accelerated — the Bavarian club's decision.
A profile built for Kompany's system
On the pitch, Saibari can play as an attacking midfielder, winger, or false nine. This versatility is a valuable asset for Vincent Kompany, who now has a player capable of adding variety to his attacking play. His arrival was, however, delayed by a thigh injury sustained during the World Cup. The Moroccan has recently returned to collective training with his new club.
A new milestone for Moroccan football
This transfer illustrates above all the continued rise of Moroccan football on the European stage. Following Hakimi, Mazraoui and the other internationals already established at the continent's top clubs, a new Atlas Lion has reached the pinnacle of the European hierarchy.
But in Munich, status alone is not enough. Bayern did not invest more than 50 million euros to make Saibari a mere rotation player. He will now need to prove, on the pitch, that he fully deserves his place among the very best.
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