Zakaria Aboukhlal / Ph. R. Perrocheau - L'Equipe ‹ › Moroccan international Zakaria Aboukhlal, currently under contract with Torino FC, is close to joining French side FC Nantes on a loan deal with an option to buy, according to French media reports on Monday. The move involving the 25-year-old forward is expected to be finalized during the winter transfer window, which opens on January 1, according to sports daily L'Equipe. The report adds that the former Toulouse FC player took part in a first training session at La Jonelière on Monday morning, as the Canaries prepare for their trip to Marseille for the 17th round of the season. Aboukhlal joined Torino last summer on a four-year contract but has struggled for playing time in Serie A, making just nine appearances this season without finding the net. Currently 17th in Ligue 1, FC Nantes is seeking to strengthen its attacking options in a bid to move out of the relegation zone and revive its ambitions midway through the campaign. The club is counting on the experience and versatility of the Moroccan international, who can operate on the wings or as a central striker. Trained in the Netherlands, Aboukhlal previously played for PSV Eindhoven and AZ Alkmaar before making his mark in France with Toulouse. Between 2022 and 2025, he featured in 76 Ligue 1 matches for the club, scoring 20 goals and providing seven assists. At international level, the Atlas Lion took part in the Africa Cup of Nations and was a member of Morocco's squad at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
