Achraf Hakimi


Achraf Hakimi Mouh, sometimes known simply as Achraf, is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a full-back for club Inter Milan and the Morocco national team. Mainly a right-back or right wing-back, he can also play on the left or as a winger.

Early life

Born in Madrid, Spain to Moroccan parents, Achraf joined Real Madrid's youth setup in 2006 from CD Colonia Ofigevi, aged eight.

Club career

Real Madrid

After progressing through La Fábrica, Achraf was promoted to the reserves in June 2016. Shortly after, he was included in the first-team's pre-season camp in the United States.
Achraf made his debut for Los Blancos in the first match of the 2016 International Champions Cup, a 3–1 loss against Paris Saint-Germain. He subsequently returned to the B-side, making his senior debut on 20 August 2016 by starting in a 3–2 Segunda División B home win against Real Sociedad B.
Achraf scored his first senior goal on 25 September 2016, netting the equaliser in a 1–1 draw at CF Fuenlabrada. He contributed with 28 appearances during the campaign, as Castilla only managed an 11th-place finish. At the end of the season, he was still young enough to return to the youth side to take part in the final of the 2017 Copa del Rey Juvenil.
On 19 August 2017, Achraf was promoted to the main squad as a backup to Dani Carvajal and Nacho, and was assigned the number 19 jersey. He made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 1 October, starting in a 2–0 home win over RCD Espanyol. He scored his first La Liga goal on 9 December 2017 in a 5–0 win against Sevilla. In the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League, he made two appearances as Madrid won the title, their third consecutive and 13th overall. Although not in the squad for the final of the competition, he received a medal and is credited as the first Moroccan player to win the Champions League.

Loan to Borussia Dortmund

On 11 July 2018, Borussia Dortmund signed Hakimi on a two-year loan deal. He scored his first goal for the club and his first Bundesliga goal in a 7–0 victory over 1. FC Nürnberg on 27 September 2018. Hakimi provided three assists in a single match for the first time in his career against Atlético Madrid, in his first Champions League appearance for Dortmund.
Hakimi scored a brace against Slavia Prague in the group stage of the Champions League on 2 October 2019, first goals in the competition. On 5 November 2019, Hakimi scored another brace in the second half to turn a 0–2 defeat against Inter Milan to a 3–2 win at the Westfalenstadion.
In February 2020, Hakimi set a Bundesliga speed record when he was clocked at 36.5 km/h in a match against 1. FC Union Berlin, beating the old league record which he had set against RB Leipzig three months prior at 36.2 km/h.
On 31 May 2020, Hakimi scored in the club's 6–1 away win over SC Paderborn. After scoring his goal, he removed his shirt to reveal a shirt with the message "Justice for George Floyd", a black Minneapolis man who had died the previous week after a police officer kept his knee on a pinned-down Floyd until he became unresponsive. His teammate, Jadon Sancho, revealed a similar shirt after scoring as well.

Inter Milan

On 2 July 2020, Serie A side Inter Milan announced the signing of Hakimi on a five-year contract, with a reported fee of around €40 million.

International career

Youth level

After representing Morocco at under-17 and under-20 levels, Achraf made his debut for the under-23s on 5 June 2016, in a 1–0 friendly win over Cameroon U23s.

Senior

Achraf made his full international debut on 11 October 2016, coming on as a substitute for Fouad Chafik in a 4–0 win against Canada. He scored his first international goal on 1 September 2017, netting the fourth in a 6–0 home routing of Mali.
In May 2018, he was named in Morocco's preliminary squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and on 4 June he was named in the final 23-man squad for the summer tournament.

Style of play

On signing for Borussia Dortmund, Achraf was profiled as a quick, dynamic and powerful full-back who is tactically and technically adept and capable of playing long accurate passes from defence. Trained as a winger, he can also play as a defender due to his physical presence.

Personal life

Achraf is married to Spanish actress Hiba Abouk; she is of Libyan and Tunisian descent. The couple have a son, born in 2020. A devout Muslim, Achraf observes Ramadan.

Career statistics

Club

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
11 September 2017Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco4–06–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
219 November 2019Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium, Bujumbura, Burundi3–03–02021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours and achievements

Club

Real Madrid
with Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Borussia Dortmund