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Liverpool are reportedly monitoring one of European football’s fastest-rising defensive prospects, with Moroccan centre-back Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal firmly on the Reds’ radar ahead of the summer window.
Born in 2006 in Marrakech, the towering 1.90m right-footed defender is a graduate of the prestigious Mohammed VI Academy and currently plies his trade at Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais, where he wears the No.48 shirt.
Still just 20, he has already racked up 14 Ligue 1 appearances this season, chipping in with two goals, and earned his senior Morocco debut in November after impressing at the U17 World Cup and finishing as runner-up at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
According to AfricaFoot, Borussia Dortmund are said to hold the advantage, viewing Ait Boudlal as a textbook fit for their youth-led recruitment model and preparing to open formal talks with Rennes. The Bundesliga challenge does not stop there, with RB Leipzig also admirers of his physicality and composure on the ball.
The Premier League threat is led by Liverpool, who have been tracking the youngster closely since his U17 World Cup displays and see him as matching their preference for technically refined, versatile defenders. Ajax are framing a potential deal as a long-term investment rooted in their African scouting network, while Ligue 1 rivals Monaco are keeping tabs on his situation.
He is said to be valued at around €10 million and under contract until 2028.
For Liverpool, the appeal is obvious. Arne Slot’s side have prioritised long-term defensive planning with deals for Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni leoni, and Ait Boudlal’s blend of aerial dominance, ball-playing composure and positional maturity fits the mould of a modern Anfield centre-back. His versatility to cover full-back areas when required only strengthens the case.
However, the Reds face a clear obstacle. Dortmund’s pathway for young talent — and their sporting project’s fit for a player still developing — gives the Germans a persuasive pitch. Rennes, meanwhile, are pushing for an extension beyond 2028 to protect their asset’s value.
Expect this saga to dominate headlines deep into the summer window.
