Hamburg have officially completed the signing of Morocco international Zakaria El Ouahdi from KRC Genk, finally landing their preferred solution on the right side after several weeks of negotiations. The 24-year-old successfully completed his medical on Sunday before signing his contract with the Bundesliga club.
According to Transfermarkt, HSV will pay an initial €8m transfer fee, with another €3m potentially due through bonuses. Genk have also reportedly secured a percentage of any future sale. The structure represents potentially excellent business for Hamburg given El Ouahdi's current estimated €17m market value.
Get German Football News reported previously that HSV had intensified their pursuit of El Ouahdi after agreeing personal terms with the player. Hamburg were preparing another attempt to reach an agreement with Genk after seeing two earlier approaches rejected.
Sporting director Claus Costa ultimately refused to abandon the pursuit or meet Genk's initial demands, with the two clubs eventually finding common ground through a lower guaranteed fee supplemented by bonuses and a sell-on clause.
El Ouahdi arrives to address one of the clearest remaining deficiencies in Hamburg's squad. Following the departures of William Mikelbrencis and Giorgi Gocholeishvili, Bakery Jatta had entered the new Bundesliga campaign with little genuine competition on the right side. Jatta subsequently struggled defensively during Hamburg's 2-0 defeat away at Borussia Dortmund.

#signing

Hamburger SV continue to pursue the signing of KRC Genk right-back Zakaria El Ouahdi as sporting director Claus Costa seeks to resolve one of the squad's most obvious remaining deficiencies before the transfer deadline. According to the Hamburger Abendblatt, HSV have already reached a basic agreement with the 24-year-old Moroccan international.
Belgian transfer reporter Sacha Tavolieri reports that the Bundesliga club are now preparing a third offer for Genk after their first two approaches failed to produce an agreement. El Ouahdi himself reportedly favors the move. Kicker identifies the defender as Hamburg's preferred solution and reports that a deal could cost approximately €13m plus bonuses.
The Morocco international offers substantial attacking production from the right flank. El Ouahdi registered eight goals and five **** ists in 34 league appearances last season, adding another four goals across nine Europa League outings. His potential arrival would also address a weakness that Get German Football News' 2026/27 Hamburger SV tactical preview identified as one of the club's principal unresolved personnel issues.
Following the departures of William Mikelbrencis and Giorgi Gocholeishvili, Bakery Jatta currently stands as the only established option for Merlin Polzin on the right wing-back position. HSV have consequently been seeking a player capable of moving ahead of Jatta in the hierarchy.
Bayer Leverkusen full-back Arthur remains the alternative should HSV decide that El Ouahdi's overall package is too expensive. Florian Plettenberg previously reported that Hamburg had reached a basic verbal agreement with the 23-year-old Brazilian over a season-long loan without a purchase option. GGFN covered Arthur's potential departure as part of Leverkusen's extensive late-window restructuring. Die Werkself are themselves attempting to sign Strasbourg right-back Guéla Doué and are prepared to sanction Arthur's temporary departure.

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