Bilal El Khannouss
Full name in native alphabet: بلال الخنوس
Country: Morocco/Belgium
Date of birth: 10/05/2004 (18 years old)
Place of birth: Strombeek-Bever (Belgium)
Height: 180cm
Youth career: Anderlecht, KRC Genk (since 2019)
Current club: KRC Genk
Squad number: 34
Current national team: Morocco
Position: central midfielder, attacking midfielder, winger
Preferred foot: right
Market value (by transfermarkt.de): 4.500.000 €
Tournaments participated in: UEFA Youth League 2021/2022 (6/0), World Cup 2022 (1/0)
Contract until: 30.06.2026
Player’s agent: unknown
Transfer rumours: —
Similar type of player: Kevin De Bruyne/Christian Eriksen
Strengths:
– passing 
– vision
– technique
– ball control
– creativity
– football IQ
– pace 
– first touch 
– agility
– work rate
To improve:
– precision of his mid and long-range shooting skills
– needs to be more decisive and concrete in the final third
– still has a margin to improve his physical prowess
– aerial duels
Style of play:
– advanced playmaker
– can become a very interesting 8/10 hybrid in the future
– tactically astute and technically capable of playing in various tactical systems
– likes to have the ball at his feet and has the natural ability of a playmaker who likes to orchestrate the play with his passing and creativity
– player with excellent technical ability, 1vs1 short-dribbling skills, close ball control, and fast direction shifts in possession
– midfielder who sees the game differently from most revealing creativity, cleverness at his off-the-ball movements, great vision, and passing ability linking up the team’s midfield and attack with ease and effectiveness
– good pace, agility, coordination, and flair
– able to change the rhythm of a game with his progressive runs and penetrative passes at any time
– likes to play in a free attacking role granted the freedom to roam the pitch and find space
– intelligent movement and positioning between the lines
– player with a superb range of passing and outstanding vision who’s excellent in combination play
– cultured passer with a proclivity for breaking the lines with intricate vertical balls
– extraordinary thinking when on the ball – he often chooses options that are unexpected for the opposition
– very high football IQ and spatial awareness
– has the ability and confidence to provide good through/killer passes in the final third
– superb at scanning the space and spotting the movements of his teammates/pre-assist specialist
– great composure, elegance, and retention skills under pressure/press-resistant player
– skillful player who displays a natural technique to dribble and take fast decisions in tight spaces
– excellent first touch to make quick combinations and link-up play with his teammates
– possesses an interesting ability to protect the ball and shield off his markers
– does not hesitate to track back and work for the team/good recovery of his position
– very active in pressing and counter-pressing
– operates quite comfortably with his weaker left foot
– competent indirect set-piece taker
El Khannouss creates a big chance with a silky first-touch pass.
El Khannouss shows his fantastic vision and creates a big chance with a superb penetrating pass.
Heatmap by Wyscout:
He is best suited to playing as:
Attacking midfielder in 4-2-3-1.
Video:
Achievements:
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League summary (as for 21 December 2022):
Jupiler Pro League 2021/2022: 1 game/0 goals (Genk)
Jupiler Pro League 2022/2023 (ongoing): 16 games/0 goals (Genk)
Description:
Bilal El Khannouss joined the KRC Genk academy from another superb youth system Anderlecht in 2019. He is considered to be one of the most exciting talents in the Jupiler Pro League. He made his first-team debut on 21 May 2022 in a league fixture against Mechelen. Despite being born in Belgium and playing for many Belgian youth national teams, he decided to represent Morocco – the country of his ancestors. On 10 November 2022, he was named in Morocco’s 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He made his international debut on 17 December 2022 in the World Cup third-place playoff against Croatia. Thanks to that he became the youngest player from Maghreb to play at the World Cup (18 years and 221 days), breaking the previous record set by Nabil Bentaleb.
Quotes:
“Bilal El Khannouss is a pleasure to watch and during my 8 years at the club, I have rarely seen such a talent at KRC Genk.”
(Dimitri De Condé – KRC Genk technical director)
Football Talent Scout potential rating:
9/10 
Player has the potential to become a key player in a top European league.
Links: