Mohamed El Arouch

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Mohamed El Arouch
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-04-06) 6 April 2004 (age 21)
Place of birth Orange, France
Height 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
RWD Molenbeek
Number 84
Youth career
2010–2017 SC Orange
2017–2022 Lyon
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2021–2024 Lyon B 34 (6)
2022–2024 Lyon 2 (0)
2024 Botafogo 0 (0)
2025– RWD Molenbeek 4 (0)
International career
2019–2020 France U16 7 (1)
2022 France U18 1 (0)
2022 France U19 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 27 April 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 18:27, 25 February 2023 (UTC)

Mohammed El Arouch (born 6 April 2004) is a French professional footballer who last played as a midfielder for Belgian club RWD Molenbeek.

Contents

Early career

El Arouch was born in Orange in a family of Moroccan descent. El Arouch began his football career at the local club Sporting Club d'Orange in 2009. [1] Considered outclassed by the coaches of his team with a decent quality of passing and dribbling, the young player received the interest of many French clubs (PSG, OM, Monaco, Nice...) and even English (Manchester City...). but his choice fell on Lyon, whom he joined in 2018. [1]

In July 2021, he signed his first professional contract with the club, for three seasons, until 30 June 2024. [2] [3] [4] He is regarded by the media as one of biggest talents ever produced by Olympique Lyon's Academy. [2] [5]

During the 2021–22 season, El Arouch played a crucial role on Lyon's Coupe Gambardella's successful campaign, leading the team winning the competition for the first time since 1997. He scored twice in course of the competition, notably the opening goal in the final at the Stade de France, where Lyon defeated Caen 5–4 in a penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw in regular time. [6] [7]

Club career

On 25 February 2023, El Arouch made his professional debut with Lyon, getting subbed on in a Ligue 1 win against Angers, replacing Thiago Mendes in the 89th minute. [8]

On 21 August 2024, El Arouch moved to Brazil, signing for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Botafogo. [9] However, he left a month later without having played a single game for the team for "personal reasons". [10]

On 3 February 2025, El Arouch joined Belgian side RWD Molenbeek, signing a two-year contract. [11]

International career

El Arouch chose to represent France instead of Morocco at youth level. He was capped 7 times France under-16, scoring once against Italy under-16 in a friendly match. He is currently playing for France under-19. [12]

Career statistics

As of match played 27 April 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lyon B 2020–21 National 2 2020
2021–22 National 29292
2022–23 National 2173173
2023–24 National 3 6161
Total346346
Lyon 2022–23 Ligue 1 101020
2023–24 Ligue 1100010
Total201030
Botafogo 2024 Campeonato Brasileiro 000000
RWD Molenbeek 2024–25 Challenger Pro League 402 [a] 060
Career total406100020436

Honours

Lyon Youth

Botafogo

References

  1. 1 2 "Mohamed El Arouch, le gone d'adoption" (in French).
  2. 1 2 "MOHAMED EL AROUCH, "LE TRÈS GROS POTENTIEL" SUR LEQUEL MISE L'OL". RMC Sport (in French).
  3. "Premier contract professionelle pour Mohamed El Arouch". Olympique Lyonnais (in French). 22 July 2021.
  4. "Ligue 1 : Lyon prolonge sa pépite Mohamed El-Arouch". Le Figaro (in French). 10 May 2022.
  5. "Coupe Gambardella : Pourquoi le " rusé " Mohamed El Arouch est perçu comme le nouveau phénomène de l'académie de l'OL". 20 minutes (France) (in French). 7 May 2022.
  6. Edward Jay (7 May 2022). "Gambardella: El Arouch, Sarr, Patouillet... Les dernières pépites de l'OL, qui disputent la finale contre Caen". RMC Sport (in French).
  7. Aurélien Macedo (7 May 2022). "Revivez en live commenté la finale de la Coupe Gambardella entre l'OL et Caen !". Foot Mercato (in French).
  8. "Ligue 1 - Angers SCO - OL : les premiers mots de Mohamed El Arouch après ses débuts en L1". Made In Gones & Ouest-France (in French). 25 February 2023.
  9. "Départ de Mohamed El Arouch à Botafogo" (in French). Olympique Lyonnais. 21 August 2024.
  10. "Former Lyon midfielder Mohamed El Arouch leaves Botafogo for 'personal reasons'". Get French Football News. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  11. "Mohamed El Arouch à Molenbeek pour deux saisons et demie" (in French). RWDM. 3 February 2025.
  12. "Football. L'académie OL en force en équipe de France espoirs". Le Progrès (in French). 30 September 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.