Soufiane Boufal has joined Libyan outfit Ittihad Tripoli on a two-season deal after leaving Le Havre as a free agent. The 32-year-old Morocco international, who featured at the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, moves to African club football for the first time following stints across Europe and the Middle East. Financial terms remain undisclosed.
From Le Havre’s relegation fight to Libyan football
Boufal arrived at Le Havre in January to bolster their battle against Ligue 1 relegation but departed when the club went down at season’s end. During his five-month spell in Normandy, he made 17 league appearances, scoring once and laying on four assists. His contract expired upon the club’s descent, freeing him to seek a new challenge.
The move represents a significant shift in trajectory for a player who has built his career across five European nations and Asia. After developing at Angers, Boufal progressed through Lille before spells at Southampton, Celta Vigo, and Union Saint-Gilloise. He also featured in Qatar with Al-Rayyan before returning to France last winter.
Ittihad Tripoli’s pedigree and Boufal’s fresh start
Ittihad Tripoli hold Libya’s national record with 18 championship titles, positioning themselves among the continent’s established clubs. Several local media outlets report the signing, though the club’s exact ambitions for the incoming campaign remain unclear. For Boufal, the switch offers regular competitive action following months without formal football after Le Havre’s relegation.
Why African football now for an experienced operator
At 32, Boufal has exhausted most conventional European pathways, with top-flight opportunities becoming scarcer. His World Cup credentials and proven ability across multiple leagues suggest Ittihad Tripoli sought a dependable midfielder capable of immediate impact. The appointment sidesteps another stint in secondary European divisions, instead offering guaranteed minutes and a chance to pursue silverware with Libya’s most decorated institution. Whether the move extends his career or marks a final chapter remains his next task to define.
