1. Early life and background
Mousa Al-Taamari was born on 10 June 1997 in Amman, Jordan. He is the son of Palestinian immigrants. Beyond his football career, Al-Taamari is a devout Muslim and has distinguished himself as a hafiz of the Quran, meaning he has memorized the entire holy book.
2. Club career
Mousa Al-Taamari's professional club career began in Jordan, progressing through local clubs before making a significant move to European leagues, where he has achieved notable success and recognition.
2.1. Shabab Al-Ordon
Al-Taamari began his professional career with Shabab Al-Ordon in the Jordanian Pro League in 2016. During his tenure, he quickly gained recognition for his exceptional pace, impressive skills, and remarkable footwork. His promising performances led to an early call-up to the senior national team after playing just six matches. A significant achievement during this period was winning the 2016 Jordan FA Shield with the club, where he scored a goal in the final match.
2.2. Al-Jazeera (loan)
In September 2017, Al-Taamari was loaned to Al-Jazeera Club. During his loan spell, he made significant contributions, particularly in the AFC Cup 2018, where he scored six goals in ten matches, helping his team reach the West Asia Zonal Final. He also played a key role in the team's success in domestic competitions, securing the 2017-18 Jordan FA Cup.
2.3. APOEL
On 28 May 2018, Al-Taamari made a pivotal move to European football, signing a three-year contract with Cypriot club APOEL for a reported transfer fee of 400.00 K EUR. His time at APOEL was highly successful, as he played a crucial role in the club's achievements. He won the 2019 Cypriot Super Cup and the 2018-19 Cypriot First Division title. His outstanding performances led to him being recognized as one of the best players in Cyprus, culminating in him winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the Cypriot League in the 2018-19 season.
2.4. OH Leuven
On 5 October 2020, Al-Taamari transferred to Belgian First Division A club OH Leuven, signing a three-year contract. The transfer fee was reported to be around 1.10 M EUR. During the 2022-23 season, he demonstrated his impact by scoring six goals and providing one assist for Leuven, in addition to amassing the second-highest number of successful dribbles in the league, showcasing his continued attacking prowess.
2.5. Montpellier
On 11 May 2023, Al-Taamari joined French club Montpellier on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract. This move marked a historic milestone for Jordanian football, as he became the first Jordanian player to sign with a Ligue 1 club and, more broadly, the first Jordanian to play in one of Europe's top five leagues. Prior to this, Al-Taamari had attracted interest from several other clubs, including Spanish side Levante, English side Blackburn, Turkish side Fenerbahçe, as well as teams from MLS and various Gulf leagues, before ultimately choosing Montpellier.
He made his Ligue 1 debut on 13 August 2023 in a 2-2 draw against Le Havre. In the subsequent matchday, Al-Taamari made an immediate impact, scoring two goals against Lyon in a commanding 4-1 victory. This performance made him the first Jordanian player to score in Ligue 1 and earned him a spot on L'Équipe's prestigious Team of the Week.
2.6. Rennes
On 3 February 2025, Al-Taamari transferred to fellow Ligue 1 club Rennes, signing a contract that extends until 2028. The transfer fee for this move was reported to be around 9.00 M EUR.
3. International career
Mousa Al-Taamari has had a significant impact on the international stage, representing Jordan from youth to senior levels and achieving historic milestones with the national team.
3.1. Youth national team
Al-Taamari began his international career representing Jordan at the youth level. He was notably capped for the under-23 squad and participated in the AFC U-23 Championship 2018.
3.2. Senior national team
Al-Taamari made his debut for the Jordan senior team on 31 August 2016, at just 19 years old, in a friendly match against Lebanon, which ended in a 1-1 draw. He went on to make six additional international appearances in 2016. In 2017, he scored his first goal for Jordan in a friendly against Hong Kong.
He was included in Jordan's squad for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, where he played three matches, scored one goal, and provided two assists. In January 2024, Al-Taamari was again selected for Jordan's 26-man squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. He scored two crucial goals in Jordan's opening match against Malaysia, contributing to a decisive 4-0 victory. As Jordan made a historic run to the semi-finals, Al-Taamari delivered a standout performance against South Korea, scoring a goal and providing an assist in a stunning 2-0 win. This pivotal contribution propelled Jordan to their first-ever AFC Asian Cup final, marking an unprecedented achievement in the nation's football history. Although Jordan finished as runners-up, Al-Taamari's performance earned him a place in the AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament for 2023.
4. Style of play
Mousa Al-Taamari primarily operates as a left-footed right winger, which allows him to frequently cut inside from the flank. His playing style is characterized by his exceptional dribbling ability, which enables him to take on defenders effectively. He is particularly dangerous when attacking defenses due to his skill in keeping the ball close to his feet even in confined spaces. Al-Taamari's combination of rapid pace, intricate trickery, and overall offensive flair has led to comparisons with prominent wingers such as Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.
5. Career statistics
5.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Shabab Al-Ordon | 2016-17 | Jordanian Pro League | 19 | 5 | 3 | 0 | - | 7 | 2 | 29 | 7 | |
| Al-Jazeera (loan) | 2017-18 | Jordanian Pro League | 17 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 18 |
| APOEL | 2018-19 | Cypriot First Division | 23 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 10 |
| 2019-20 | Cypriot First Division | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 3 | |
| 2020-21 | Cypriot First Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | 8 | 0 | ||
| Total | 48 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 80 | 13 | ||
| OH Leuven | 2020-21 | Belgian Pro League | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 21 | 1 | ||
| 2021-22 | Belgian Pro League | 31 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 33 | 3 | |||
| 2022-23 | Belgian Pro League | 34 | 6 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 36 | 6 | |||
| Total | 86 | 10 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 90 | 10 | ||||
| Montpellier | 2023-24 | Ligue 1 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 27 | 5 | ||
| 2024-25 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 28 | 5 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 28 | 5 | ||||
| Career total | 198 | 35 | 16 | 5 | 33 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 259 | 53 | ||
5.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan | 2016 | 6 | 0 |
| 2017 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2018 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 11 | 3 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2024 | 15 | 9 | |
| Total | 77 | 22 | |
Scores and results list Jordan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Al-Taamari goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 March 2017 | King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman, Jordan | Hong Kong | 3-0 | 4-0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 28 March 2017 | King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman, Jordan | Cambodia | 6-0 | 7-0 | 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 3 | 25 December 2017 | King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman, Jordan | Libya | 1-0 | 1-1 | Friendly |
| 4 | 28 December 2018 | Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar | China PR | 1-0 | 1-1 | Friendly |
| 5 | 10 January 2019 | Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates | Syria | 1-0 | 2-0 | 2019 AFC Asian Cup |
| 6 | 7 June 2019 | Anton Malatinský Stadium, Trnava, Slovakia | Slovakia | 1-0 | 1-5 | Friendly |
| 7 | 10 September 2019 | Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan | Paraguay | 1-0 | 2-4 | Friendly |
| 8 | 24 March 2021 | Theyab Awana Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Lebanon | 1-0 | 1-0 | Friendly |
| 9 | 28 January 2022 | New York University Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | New Zealand | 2-1 | 3-1 | Friendly |
| 10 | 1 June 2022 | Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar | Australia | 1-0 | 1-2 | Friendly |
| 11 | 28 March 2023 | Saoud bin Abdulrahman Stadium, Doha, Qatar | Philippines | 1-0 | 4-0 | Friendly |
| 12 | 2-0 | |||||
| 13 | 16 June 2023 | Franz Horr Stadium, Vienna, Austria | Serbia | 2-1 | 2-3 | Friendly |
| 14 | 15 January 2024 | Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar | Malaysia | 2-0 | 4-0 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup |
| 15 | 4-0 | |||||
| 16 | 6 February 2024 | Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar | South Korea | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup |
| 17 | 21 March 2024 | Jinnah Sports Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan | Pakistan | 1-0 | 3-0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 18 | 3-0 | |||||
| 19 | 26 March 2024 | Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan | Pakistan | 1-0 | 7-0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 20 | 3-0 | |||||
| 21 | 6-0 | |||||
| 22 | 5 September 2024 | Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan | Kuwait | 1-0 | 1-1 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
6. Honours
Al-Taamari has accumulated several significant titles and awards throughout his professional career, both at the club and international levels, as well as individual accolades.
Shabab Al-Ordon
- Jordan FA Shield: 2016
Al-Jazeera
- Jordan FA Cup: 2017-18
APOEL
- Cypriot First Division: 2018-19
- Cypriot Super Cup: 2019
Jordan
- AFC Asian Cup runner-up: 2023
Individual
- Cypriot First Division MVP: 2018-19
- AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2023
7. Influence and legacy
Mousa Al-Taamari's career has had a profound impact on Jordanian football, establishing a pioneering legacy for future generations. His transfer to Montpellier and subsequently to Rennes marked a historic moment as he became the first Jordanian footballer to play in a top-five European league. This achievement significantly elevated the profile of Jordanian football on the international stage, inspiring aspiring players in his home country. His leadership and instrumental role in guiding the Jordan national team to their first-ever AFC Asian Cup final in 2023 further cemented his status as a national icon. Al-Taamari's journey embodies a new era for Jordanian football, showcasing the potential for players from the region to succeed at the highest levels of the sport.