AJ Auxerre have reached a preliminary agreement to acquire Moroccan midfielder Oussama El Azzouzi from Bologna FC on a season-long loan, with no option to buy. The 24-year-old is set to join Ligue 1 for the 2025-26 season, with final formalities expected to be completed next week, journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on Friday. The deal between Bologna FC and Auxerre offers El Azzouzi a chance to reboot his career after a challenging 2024-25 season in Serie A, where he played in just two matches. El Azzouzi, who joined Bologna from Union Saint-Gilloise in 2023, has struggled to secure regular playing time, making only three appearances in Serie A. This loan deal allows Auxerre to bolster their midfield without a long-term financial commitment, while providing the Moroccan international with crucial playing time. This transfer is timely for El Azzouzi, who is eager to catch the attention of Morocco's coach Walid Regragui ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, set for December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
