Mohamed El Arouch
Country: France/Morocco
Date of birth: 06/04/2004 (17 years old)
Place of birth: Orange (France)
Height: 167cm
Youth career: SC Orange, Olympique Lyonnais (since 2017)
Current club: Olympique Lyonnais
Squad number: —
Current national team: —
Position: central midfielder, attacking midfielder
Preferred foot: right
Market value (by transfermarkt.de): —
Tournaments participated in: UEFA Youth League 2019/2020 (1/0)
Contract until: 30.06.2024
Player’s agent: unknown
Transfer rumours: —
Similar type of player: Andrés Iniesta
Strengths:
– pace 
– passing
– vision
– technique
– ball control
– creativity
– dribbling
– football IQ
– first touch
– teamwork 
– flair
– agility
– versatility
– player with small frame who doesn’t feel comfortable in contact situations
– efficiency in defensive duels
Style of play:
– roaming playmaker
– has all the qualities to play as an advanced playmaker as well
– player with a slender physique and a low centre of gravity
– great coordination, footwork, changes of pace, and agility
– tactically astute and technically capable of playing in various tactical systems and roles
– creative player with great technique on the ball, mobility, acceleration skills, fast direction shifts, short-dribbling and good short-mid through passing ability
– knows how to dictate tempo using his good vision, passing ability at all distances, and natural technique to create dynamism on the team’s build-up process
– very comfortable and composed on the ball, with a willingness to play and receive passes along the ground
– likes to dribble
– very good composure and retention skills under pressure/press-resistant player
– excellent understanding of space, positional awareness, and high football IQ
– able to make effective late runs into opposite penalty box lurking for a chance to exploit his shooting skills
– able to rapidly speed-up the game by dribbling, progressive runs and passes
– very strong in 1v1 situations, unpredictable, and very confident of his skills
– extraordinary sense of what is happening on the pitch/he often chooses simple but yet brilliant decisions when on the ball
– has the technique, vision, ability, and confidence to execute the killer pass and set-up goalscoring opportunities for his teammates
– able to dribble and make quick combinations with his teammates at top speed
– able to deliver pinpoint passes and crosses
– competent direct and indirect set-piece taker
El Arouch moves to the more central area of the pitch and provides a brilliant through ball to his teammate.
El Arouch with a run through the middle and a brilliant pass to his teammate which ends up with a penalty.
Heatmap by Wyscout:
He is best suited to playing as:
Central midfielder in 4-3-3.
Video:
Achievements:
—
League summary (as for 8 March 2022):
Championnat National 2 2020/2021: 2 games/0 goals (Lyon II)
Championnat National 2 2021/2022 (ongoing): 6 games/2 goals (Lyon II)
Description:
Mohamed El Arouch joined the famous Olympique Lyonnais youth academy in 2017 from SC Orange – his hometown club. He is considered to be the most talented Lyon player born in 2004. He is tipped to follow in the footsteps of other famous ‘Les Gones’ youth graduates such as Nabil Fekir, Karim Benzema, Hatem Ben Arfa, Samuel Umtiti, Maxime Gonalons, Houssem Aouar, and Alexandre Lacazette.
Quotes:
“The playmaker who has represented France at various youth levels became the first player of Lyon’s 2004 generation to sign as a professional in the summer. After the excitement surrounding Rayan Cherki, El Arouch is tipped to follow him into the first team after appearances in pre-season for Petr Bosz’s side having impressed with the club’s development sides. Born in Orange in the Vaucluse department, El Arouch grew up as a Lyon supporter and turned down interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City during his youth career. He is also a free-kick specialist and has revealed he used to have a poster of Juninho Pernambucano, the former Brazil midfielder who is now Lyon’s sporting director, on his wall. “It’s not for nothing that No 8 is his favourite number,” said one of El Arouch’s relatives.”
(The Guardian)
Football Talent Scout potential rating:
Player has the potential to become a key player in a top European club.
Links: