Nayef Aguerd in Blue and White!

He was born where the sun sculpts shadows, in Kenitra, northern Morocco, between the Atlantic Ocean and childhood dreams. Nayef Aguerd, a tall, calm-looking lad, never shouted loudly to get noticed. He preferred to let the ball do the talking for him, and above all, the silence of those who know how to bide their time.

At the Mohammed VI Academy team centre, a breeding ground for Moroccan football in full growth, he learned the demands, discipline and defensive elegance that would become his trademark. At FUS Rabat, he became a pillar, attracting the attention of foreign recruiters. Europe, patiently waiting, finally called him.

In 2018, he landed in France, in Dijon. There, far from the spotlight, he established himself as a modern defender: solid in one-on-one situations, comfortable on the ball, and above all, possessed of an Olympian calm. Rennes sensed an opportunity and signed him in 2020. Wearing the Breton colours, Nayef Aguerd reached a new milestone: he discovered the Europa League, European competitions, and established himself as one of the best defenders in Ligue 1.

But it was in 2022 that everything changed. West Ham, the London club with a beating heart, welcomed him with open arms. Nayef flew to England for the Premier League and its weekly matches. There he found a new challenge, more intense and more publicised. He persevered, fought hard, and ultimately made his mark in the club's history by winning the Europa League in 2023.

Loaned to Real Sociedad in 2024-25, he had a full season, playing 36 matches.

But perhaps his greatest achievement came with Morocco. In 2022, he was one of the proud faces of a golden generation that took the Atlas Lions to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar, a first for an African nation. Injured before the end, he remains the symbol of a united, daring team, driven by a dream bigger than itself.

Today, Nayef Aguerd embodies another facet of modern football: that of a man of duty, discreet but essential, forged between two shores, between courage and humility. A combination of qualities that will enable him to meet the challenges of Roberto De Zerbi's team.

Welcome to Marseille, Nayef!