.jpg) El Ghazi playing forAjax in 2015 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Anwar El Ghazi[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1995-05-03)3 May 1995 (age 29)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Barendrecht, Netherlands[2] | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Winger,forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Cardiff City | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2006 | BVV Barendrecht | ||
| 2006–2008 | Feyenoord | ||
| 2008–2009 | Spartaan '20 | ||
| 2009–2013 | Sparta Rotterdam | ||
| 2013–2014 | Ajax | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2017 | Ajax | 70 | (20) |
| 2017–2019 | Lille | 39 | (5) |
| 2018–2019 | →Aston Villa (loan) | 31 | (5) |
| 2019–2022 | Aston Villa | 71 | (15) |
| 2022 | →Everton (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | PSV | 24 | (8) |
| 2023 | Mainz 05 | 3 | (0) |
| 2024– | Cardiff City | 24 | (3) |
| International career | |||
| 2011 | Netherlands U17 | 2 | (1) |
| 2012–2013 | Netherlands U18 | 3 | (2) |
| 2014–2016 | Netherlands U21 | 11 | (3) |
| 2015 | Netherlands | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 March 2025 | |||
Anwar El Ghazi (Arabic:أنور الغازي; born 3 May 1995) is a Dutch professionalfootballer who plays as awinger or aforward forEFL Championship clubCardiff City.
El Ghazi began his football career in the youth ranks of his local clubBVV Barendrecht, joining the youth academy ofFeyenoord for two seasons. He then joined the ranks of Spartaan '20 before being recruited toSparta Rotterdam, where he progressed through the academy. In 2013, he joined theAjax Youth Academy, playing for the A1 selection (under-19), competing in theUEFA Youth League.[4]
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El Ghazi was signed byAjax in July 2013.[5] During the2014–15 pre-season, he scored 8 goals in 150 minutes of playing time, finishing as Ajax's top pre-season scorer. While Ajax initially intended to send El Ghazi to their reserve team, Jong Ajax, El Ghazi's pre-season prompted Ajax to include him in the first-team squad, following the loan of fellow wingerLesley de Sa toGo Ahead Eagles. El Ghazi made his official debut for Ajax in the2014 Johan Cruyff Shield againstPEC Zwolle, coming on forRicardo Kishna in the 1–0 loss at home.[6]
El Ghazi made his regular season debut for Ajax in the2014–15 Eredivisie season opener againstVitesse. The match ended in a 4–1 home victory, with El Ghazi providing the assist for the fourth goal byLasse Schöne in the 87th minute.[7] On 17 August 2014, El Ghazi scored his firstEredivisie goal in the 3–1 away win againstAZ, scoring in the 90th minute.[8] He scored his firstUEFA Champions League goal on 22 October 2014 atCamp Nou againstBarcelona in the 88th minute of a 3–1 loss. In so doing, he became the first player to score at Camp Nou since the beginning of the2014–15 season, when Barcelona went five matches at home without conceding a goal.[9]
On 31 January 2017, it was announced El Ghazi had been sold to FrenchLigue 1 sideLille for a €8 million transfer fee.[10] On 18 February, he scored his first goal for Lille againstCaen, which also became the winner (0–1).[11]
On 6 August 2017, on the first matchday of the2017–18 season, El Ghazi scored Lille's third goal againstNantes. To celebrate, he took off his shirt to reveal a shirt paying tribute toAbdelhak Nouri, his former Ajax teammate who the month before had collapsed and suffered acardiac arrhythmia attack, which had left him with severe and permanent brain damage and unable to continue as a footballer.[12] During the 2017–18 season, El Ghazi scored four goals and delivered two assists in 27 appearances. The Dutch striker distinguished himself in particular during the match againstRC Strasbourg, on 28 January 2018 at home at theStade Pierre-Mauroy, where he scored the first goal; a header, after an assist byNicolas Pépé. He then delivered an assist for theEdgar Ié, sealing the win for Lille.[13]
On 18 February 2018, El Ghazi suffered a hamstring injury againstLyon, sidelining him for several weeks.[14] Due to complications, he did not return until the end of the season, where he struggled to establish himself in head coachChristophe Galtier's starting lineup.[15]
On 22 August 2018, El Ghazi signed forChampionship clubAston Villa on a season-long loan, with a clause to buy included.[16] He made his debut on 25 August 2018 in a 1–1 draw withReading, providing an assist by crossing the ball toAhmed Elmohamady, who scored a header.[17] He scored his first goal for the Villans a week later on 1 September 2018 in a 4–1 defeat toSheffield United.
On 28 April 2019, in a heated contest between Aston Villa andChampionship playoff rivalsLeeds United atElland Road, El Ghazi was mistakenly shown a red card by refereeStuart Attwell. This occurred after El Ghazi allegedly struck Leeds forwardPatrick Bamford during an on pitch brawl followingMateusz Klich's controversial 72nd opening goal for Leeds United followingTyler Roberts' refusal to put the ball out of touch for an injury.[18] The decision was met with controversy from fans and pundits alike, with Aston Villa head coachDean Smith claiming that after reviewing the footage of the incident reported that he'd be 'amazed' if the red card and subsequent three-game ban weren't overturned after appeal.[19] The red card and ban were later rescinded and on 2 May, Bamford was banned for two games for "successful deception of a match official".[20]
On 27 May 2019, El Ghazi scored Aston Villa's first goal in their 2–1 EFL Championship Play-off final victory overDerby County. In the 44th minute he met an Ahmed Elmohamady cross from the right with an attempted diving header which diverted in off his back. In the second half an El Ghazi shot from just outside the penalty area was blocked byRichard Keogh, looping up forJohn McGinn to steal in and score with a header, putting Aston Villa 2–0 up in the tie on 59 minutes.[21]
El Ghazi signed for Villa permanently on 10 June 2019 on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[22] He scored 4 goals and contributed 4 assists in his firstPremier League season, as Villa narrowly avoided relegation.[23]
On 26 December 2020, El Ghazi scored a goal in the 3–0 home victory overCrystal Palace that would go onto to be voted Aston Villa's goal of the season for the2020–21 season.[24] It was one of 11 goals scored that season, equalling his best ever goalscoring season with Ajax.[25]
El Ghazi signed for Everton on loan on 13 January 2022.[26] He took the number 34 shirt in honour of former Ajax teammateAbdelhak Nouri.[27]
On 30 August 2022, El Ghazi completed a move toPSV Eindhoven.[28] He made his debut in a 2–1 defeat toTwente on 3 September.[29] His contract with PSV was terminated by mutual consent on 4 September 2023.[30]
On 22 September 2023, El Ghazi signed a two-year contract withBundesliga clubMainz 05.[31] El Ghazi played his only game with Mainz 05 on 6 October againstBorussia Mönchengladbach, being subbed on forBrajan Gruda, where he assistedAymen Barkok's goal in the 75th minute to make the game 2–1.[32] El Ghazi was suspended by Mainz 05 on 17 October for sharing a pro-Palestinian post onInstagram relating to the2023 Israel–Palestine war, which contained the statement"From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."[33] He later stated "Every individual, be it in Palestine or elsewhere, has the right to security, a loving home, and opportunities to grow."[34] Due to his comments, Mainz 05's official Instagram account was taken offline in the wake of El Ghazi's release.[35]
On 27 October, Mainz informed El Ghazi that they intended to terminate his contract due to his social media post.[36] However, he returned on 31 October after it was reported that he distanced himself from his statement by stating that he stood "for peace above everything" and calling for "more empathy" as "deepening our knowledge about the history of this conflict is vital". A week later, Mainz terminated his contract. This came after El Ghazi denied the club's statement that he had backed away from his initial statement, saying on social media that he had not authorised the club's statement on the matter: "I do not distance myself from what I said and stand for humanity and on the side of the oppressed until the last day I breathe."[37]
In November 2023, El Ghazi announced that he would be taking Mainz to the Labour Court of Mainz forwrongful dismissal.[38] On 12 July 2024, the Labour Court ruled that El Ghazi was unfairly dismissed by Mainz.[39] Mainz were ordered to pay El Ghazi €1.5 million compensation.[40] On 23 August, El Ghazi confirmed that he had received the €1.5 million compensation ordered by the court, of which he would donate €0.5 million to children in Gaza; he is still owed €200,000 in bonuses by Mainz.[41] He said he would like to thank Mainz for funding "projects for children in Gaza" and "in attempting to silence me, making my voice even louder for the oppressed and voiceless in Gaza".[41]
On 1 August 2024, El Ghazi signed a one-year contract withCardiff City.[42]
Having dual citizenship, El Ghazi was eligible to represent either theNetherlands orMorocco at senior level. He made his international debut playing for theNetherlands under-18 side in a friendly match againstAustria on 15 October 2012, a 2–0 loss.[43]
El Ghazi metCristiano Ronaldo during the summer break, a player who he looks up to, and asked him whether he should represent the Netherlands or Morocco. Ronaldo advised him to choose the Netherlands because he would have a higher chance to participate in an international tournament, based on their history. Consequently, El Ghazi said he would choose to represent the Netherlands and was subsequently called up for the Netherlands' two finalUEFA Euro 2016 qualifying matches, againstKazakhstan on 10 October 2015 and theCzech Republic on 13 October.[44] He was named in theOranje's starting line-up for both matches as the Dutch defeated Kazakhstan 2–1 but lost to the Czechs 3–2. The Netherlands failed to qualify for thetournament proper after finishing fourth in theirqualifying group.
On 14 May 2021, El Ghazi was called up byFrank de Boer and theNetherlands to be part of the provisional squad for the upcomingUEFA Euro 2020 tournament, making it his first call-up to the national team since 2015.[45]
In October 2022 El Ghazi confirmed that he was considering switching toMorocco and that theRoyal Moroccan Football Federation was working on the paperwork.[46] He is yet to make an appearance for them. He would not be eligible as he already appeared for Netherlands in a competitive match.
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe[a] | Other[b] | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ajax | 2014–15 | Eredivisie | 31 | 9 | 2 | 0 | — | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 10 | |
| 2015–16 | Eredivisie | 27 | 11 | 1 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | — | 37 | 11 | |||
| 2016–17 | Eredivisie | 12 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 6 | 1 | — | 20 | 2 | |||
| Total | 70 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 23 | ||
| Lille | 2016–17 | Ligue 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 13 | 2 | |||
| 2017–18 | Ligue 1 | 27 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 4 | |||
| Total | 39 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 6 | ||
| Aston Villa (loan) | 2018–19 | Championship | 31 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 1 | 36 | 6 | |
| Aston Villa | 2019–20 | Premier League | 34 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 40 | 6 | ||
| 2020–21 | Premier League | 28 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 31 | 11 | |||
| 2021–22 | Premier League | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 12 | 3 | |||
| Total | 102 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 119 | 26 | ||
| Everton (loan) | 2021–22 | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| PSV | 2022–23 | Eredivisie | 23 | 8 | 3 | 0 | — | 5 | 1 | — | 31 | 9 | ||
| 2023–24 | Eredivisie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 24 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 9 | ||
| Mainz 05 | 2023–24 | Bundesliga | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Cardiff City | 2024–25 | Championship | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 259 | 56 | 14 | 3 | 13 | 4 | 29 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 319 | 67 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 2015 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 | |
Aston Villa
The scorer of Lille's third goal against Nantes on Sunday, Dutch striker Anwar El Ghazi paid tribute to his former teammate Abdelhak Nouri, in serious condition after a heart attack on July 8 during a friendly match.
Anwar El Ghazi and his Lille OSC team have taken important points in the fight against relegation. At home against Strasbourg, the team won in the absolute final phase thanks to an assist from the ex-Ajax player (2-1), who had already made it 1-0.
El Ghazi scored five times in 39 Ligue 1 appearances, but was not part of Lille boss Christophe Galtier's plans for the current campaign.
