Royal Charleroi Sporting Club has officially announced the acquisition of 19-year-old Moroccan midfielder Yassine Khalifi from French Ligue 1 side Lille OSC. The move is a permanent transfer, with the promising youngster committing his future to the Belgian club by signing a contract that will keep him at Charleroi until 2027.
Khalifi arrived at Lille in 2023, joining from the well-regarded Mohamed VI Football Academy in Morocco. He arrived with a considerable reputation as a talent to watch, having already made a professional debut in his home country while on loan at Union de Touarga earlier that year. However, despite expectations and his prior senior experience, Khalifi found it challenging to break into Lille`s senior squad during his tenure in France. His time with Les Dogues was primarily spent furthering his development within the club`s youth structures, without making a competitive first-team appearance.
This transfer to Charleroi appears to be a strategic move aimed at securing vital senior playing time. The Belgian Pro League club has clearly signalled their intentions, confirming that Khalifi will integrate directly with the first-team squad for their upcoming pre-season training camp. For a player of his age with professional experience already on his resume before even arriving in France, the priority is now undoubtedly to transition from a highly-rated prospect to a regular senior contributor. Charleroi offers the stage where he can hopefully make that crucial step and build upon the foundation laid during his development phase, even if the breakthrough at Lille proved elusive.
