1. Early Life and Career Development
Nayef Aguerd's early life and foundational football training laid the groundwork for his professional career, starting in Morocco and progressing through his first professional club.
1.1. Childhood and Youth Career
Nayef Aguerd was born and raised in the city of Kenitra in northwestern Morocco. He began his footballing journey at the renowned Mohammed VI Football Academy. After his time at the academy, he moved to FUS Rabat in 2014, where he spent a season with the club's amateur team before officially signing his first professional contract with FUS Rabat in the Botola league later that same year.
1.2. FUS Rabat
During his tenure with FUS Rabat, Aguerd quickly established himself. In his first season, the team finished as the runner-up in the 2015 Moroccan Throne Cup, losing in the final to Olympique Club de Khouribga. On 15 February 2015, he scored his first goal for the team in a 3-1 victory against Wydad AC. Demonstrating his capabilities on a larger stage, he scored his first continental goal on 3 March 2016, in a 1-1 draw against UMS de Loum in a CAF Confederation Cup match. His contributions were instrumental in FUS Rabat winning the Botola Pro title during the 2015-16 season.
2. Club Career
Nayef Aguerd's club career has seen him progress through various leagues in Europe, making significant contributions to each team he has represented.
2.1. Dijon
After spending four seasons with FUS Rabat, Aguerd made his move to Europe, joining Dijon in Ligue 1, France's top-tier football league. He made his professional debut for Dijon on 25 August 2018 in a 4-0 win over OGC Nice. Remarkably, he scored the first goal for his side in that very debut match.
2.2. Rennes
On 14 August 2020, Aguerd signed a four-year contract with fellow Ligue 1 team Rennes. The transfer fee was undisclosed, but it was widely reported to be between 4.00 M EUR and 5.00 M EUR. He scored his first goal for Rennes in a friendly match against Nice, though the game ended in a 3-2 loss. On 13 September 2020, he found the net for the first time in a league match, scoring in a 4-2 victory against Nîmes.
Aguerd's performances continued to be recognized; on 17 May 2021, he was ranked 11th in the Prix Marc-Vivien Foé, an award recognizing the best African player in Ligue 1. On 19 August 2021, he scored his first European goal, a header, in a 2-0 victory against Rosenborg BK in the UEFA Europa Conference League. Just a week later, Aguerd scored again in the second leg of the 2021-22 play-off round against Rosenborg. His consistent form led to him being ranked 3rd in the Prix Marc-Vivien Foé on 16 May 2022.
2.3. West Ham United
In June 2022, Aguerd made a significant move to the Premier League, signing a five-year contract with West Ham United. The transfer fee was 30.00 M GBP, making him the fourth-highest paid player by West Ham at the time. (This fee was also reported as approximately 5.00 B JPY).
He made his debut for West Ham in a pre-season friendly against Reading on 16 July, playing 63 minutes in a 1-1 draw. However, his second pre-season game, against Rangers on 19 July, saw him sustain an ankle injury that required surgery. After three months of recovery, Aguerd returned to training with the team on 19 October. His competitive debut for West Ham United came on 27 October in a 1-0 UEFA Europa Conference League victory against Silkeborg IF. On 2 April 2023, Aguerd scored his first Premier League goal in a 1-0 home encounter against Southampton. His season culminated in winning his first major trophy with the club, the 2022-23 UEFA Europa Conference League, after West Ham defeated Fiorentina 2-1 in the final on 7 June 2023.
2.4. Loan to Real Sociedad
On 30 August 2024, Nayef Aguerd was loaned to La Liga club Real Sociedad for the duration of the 2024-25 season.
3. International Career
Nayef Aguerd has been a consistent presence for the Morocco national football team, participating in several major international tournaments and contributing to the team's successes.
He made his debut for the Morocco national team in a 0-0 friendly tie against Albania on 31 August 2016. In 2018, Aguerd represented Morocco in the 2018 African Nations Championship, where he played a crucial role in helping his country secure their first-ever CHAN title. His first international goal came on 6 September 2021, during a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Sudan, where he netted a sharp shot from a cross, contributing to a 2-0 victory.
Aguerd was invited by coach Vahid Halilhodžić to represent Morocco in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, where he started all of the team's group stage matches. During the tournament, he scored an own goal in a 2-2 draw against Gabon.
In November 2022, he was named in Morocco's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar. Aguerd featured in all three group games and the Round of 16 match against Spain. Alongside fellow defender Romain Saïss, his strong defensive partnership helped Morocco concede only one goal (an own goal by Aguerd himself) throughout these four matches. However, he unfortunately missed the quarter-final victory over Portugal due to an injury sustained in the previous match. He was also unable to play in the decisive semi-final against France due to illness, being withdrawn from the starting lineup just minutes before kick-off despite initially being listed. On 28 December 2023, Aguerd was once again selected by coach Walid Regragui for Morocco's 27-player squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
4. Personal Life
Nayef Aguerd has engaged in social contributions, demonstrating his commitment beyond the football pitch. On 9 September 2023, following the devastating 2023 Marrakesh-Safi earthquake, Aguerd, along with his national teammates, participated in donating blood to assist the victims affected by the natural disaster.
5. Career Statistics
Detailed statistical data of Nayef Aguerd's club and international career are presented below, including appearances and goals across various competitions.
5.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| FUS Rabat | 2014-15 | Botola Pro | 12 | 1 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 16 | 1 | ||
| 2015-16 | Botola Pro | 21 | 2 | 4 | 1 | - | - | 25 | 3 | |||
| 2016-17 | Botola Pro | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | 13 | 1 | 38 | 3 | ||
| 2017-18 | Botola Pro | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||
| Total | 80 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 106 | 7 | ||
| Dijon | 2018-19 | Ligue 1 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 17 | 3 | |
| 2019-20 | Ligue 1 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 12 | 1 | |||
| Total | 25 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 4 | ||
| Rennes | 2020-21 | Ligue 1 | 35 | 3 | 1 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | 40 | 3 | |
| 2021-22 | Ligue 1 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | 9 | 2 | 40 | 4 | ||
| Total | 66 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 80 | 7 | ||
| West Ham United | 2022-23 | Premier League | 18 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
| 2023-24 | Premier League | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 28 | 2 | |
| Total | 39 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 58 | 4 | ||
| Real Sociedad (loan) | 2024-25 | La Liga | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 9 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| Career total | 229 | 17 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 53 | 4 | 303 | 22 | ||
5.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | 2016 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 15 | 0 | |
| Total | 53 | 1 | |
Scores and results list Morocco's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 September 2021 | Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco | Sudan | 1-0 | 2-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
6. Honours and Achievements
Nayef Aguerd has accumulated several honours and achievements throughout his football career, both with his clubs and the national team, alongside individual recognitions.
6.1. Club Honours
- FUS Rabat
- Botola Pro: 2015-16
- Moroccan Throne Cup: 2013-14; runner-up: 2014-15
- West Ham United
- UEFA Europa Conference League: 2022-23
6.2. International Honours
- Morocco
- African Nations Championship: 2018
6.3. Individual Achievements
- IFFHS CAF Men Team of The Year: 2020
- Prix Marc-Vivien Foé: 11th place (2021), 3rd place (2022)
- UEFA Europa Conference League Team of the Season: 2022-23
6.4. Orders and Decorations
- Order of the Throne: 2022