Morocco international Bilal El Khannouss will be wearing white and red this season after joining VfB Stuttgart on loan from English second-tier side Leicester City until the end of the campaign. The 21-year-old, who also holds Belgian citizenship, will wear the number 11 shirt at the MHP Arena.
“My first impressions are really positive,” said El Khannouss. “VfB are a big club that has been on a successful path in recent years. I’m looking forward to the future, and I can’t wait to get started and get to know my team-mates better.”
Fabian Wohlgemuth, VfB CEO, added: “We’re really pleased we’ve been able to complete a deal for Bilal El Khannouss. He’s a young player with great potential who will get to showcase his abilities in attack, particularly from a central position but on the wing too. He’s a strong dribbler, he’s fast and has good passing skills, which will increase our options up front. His offensive qualities and experience abroad, gained from playing in European leagues and in international games with Morocco, make him a real asset for us. We warmly welcome Bilal to VfB Stuttgart.”
Belgian top-flight debut at 18
El Khannouss was born in Strombeek-Bever, Belgium, on 10 May 2004. He was snapped up by RSC Anderlecht as a youngster before joining KRC Genk’s academy as a 15-year-old, making his debut for the four-time Belgian champions on 24 July 2022 – aged just 18 years and two months old. He went on to make 60 further league appearances for Genk, registering four goals and 14 assists.
In summer 2024, El Khannouss signed for Leicester City in the English Premier League, scoring two goals and setting up a further three in 32 top-flight outings for the Foxes. He has also made 12 club appearances in Europe and was part of the Genk side that took part in the UEFA Conference League in 2023/24.
The 1.80m attacking midfielder has scored once and bagged two assists in 22 senior appearances for Morocco. He was part of the side that won the U23 Africa Cup of Nations in 2023, while he also helped his team win a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. El Khannouss represented both Belgium and Morocco at youth level before committing his future to the Atlas Lions.
