The Moroccan Wizard: Ismael Saibari
I recently took an in-depth look at PSV’s Ismael Saibari as a potential “dream signing” for Leeds United. By the following morning, reports emerged suggesting he was already in advanced discussions with Bayern Munich. Cue: pain. So yes, perhaps I got slightly carried away with the ambition levels on that one.
Still, there’s absolutely no point letting a good thing go to waste. I may have convinced myself I’d discovered the future of Leeds United’s midfield only for him to sign for Bayern Munich, but that’s no reason to immediately throw the article in the bin. The fact one of the biggest clubs in world football decided they want Saibari probably says something positive about the player profile in the first place. Unfortunately, it also says something about my unrealistic targets. Anyway Bayern fans, here it is…
We’ve already been told that Leeds’ “approach to the transfer market will once again be strategic and disciplined”. I still hope smart recruitment elsewhere in the squad allows us to make one genuinely marquee signing this summer, and if we do, Ismael Saibari is the one for me. Saibari is a smart signing (if you can call a £35m+ player smart) because he solves multiple problems simultaneously. He gives you physicality, tactical flexibility, and creativity. But unlike many Eredivisie attacking midfielders who dominate technically without possessing the physical profile for elite football, Saibari looks built for the Premier League already. As an Aaronson replacement he would offer far more carrying power and ball progression, a greater physical presence (ahem, which wouldn’t be hard), and a genuine goal threat from midfield.
He would also bring huge versatility to Leeds United. According Transfermarkt, over the past three seasons for PSV Saibari has operated as:
- centre midfielder (35)
- attacking midfielder (27)
- right winger (1)
- left winger (2)
- centre forward (2)
- left midfield (1)
This versatility is undoubtedly one of his strengths, but it’s also one of the reasons he remains slightly difficult to fully define. Saibari is not a pure playmaker in the traditional sense. He is at his best when driving through midfield, attacking space aggressively, carrying the ball at defenders, and forcing opponents into uncomfortable situations. It’s why his YouTube montage looks so exciting. At his best he can look like a future world-class attacking midfielder. I watched him look unstoppable against Feyenoord in late October where he scored an incredible hat-trick. And yet, I’m not for one minute suggesting he’s the complete package because in Champions League games this season I saw him drift out of games tactically, force actions unnecessarily, and disappear defensively for long stretches of the game.
PLAYER PROFILE
Primary Positions
- Attacking midfielder
- Right-sided attacking midfielder
- Advanced number 8
Secondary Positions
- Central midfielder in aggressive systems
- Transitional second striker
PHYSICAL PROFILE
This is arguably the most important part of Saibari’s profile because without the physical tools he becomes another technically gifted Eredivisie creator who likely won’t cut it in the Premier League. Instead he possesses things that can’t be taught to footballers. Namely, genuine athletic explosiveness, stride power, and Premier League-level physicality. At around 6’1 he is able to combine upper-body strength, long-stride carrying, and mobility exceptionally well. This allows him to survive contact while still progressing attacks up the pitch.
BALL CARRYING
This is one of the defining traits of Saibari. He can be devastating when driving forward with space ahead of him. Saibari has a knack for drifting out wide and finding space where he then attacks this aggressively rather than cautiously. Many modern creators have a habit of being influenced by the Pep Guardiola brand of football where they slow attacks down, circulate possession, and manipulate shape patiently. Saibari often does the opposite – he accelerates chaos with explosive ball carrying ability.
WHY HIS CARRYING IS SPECIAL
Most powerful carriers rely mainly on pace, or physicality. But Saibari is able to combine power, close control, body feints, and timing. He manipulates defenders before accelerating, and that combination is difficult to defend. Due to his frame, Saibari is quite difficult to knock off the ball. And once he builds momentum, he drives through players like a JCB.
DRIBBLING PROFILE
Saibari is a strong but unconventional dribbler. He is not a Messi style technical dribbler, nor will he hug the touchline like a Raphinha. Instead his dribbling is vertical, forceful, and momentum-based.
He is the type of player who thrives when games become stretched and chaotic. Give him space to attack with defenders retreating towards their own goal and he becomes extremely difficult to stop. And that leads us directly to an area of his game which suggests he has outgrown the Eredivisie.
FINAL THIRD OUTPUT
Like Tzolis in the Belgian Pro League, Saibari has put up consistently good numbers over the past two seasons. According to FotMob, in the Eredivisie this season Saibari has:
- 11 goals (9th best)
- 11 assists (2nd best)
- 7.47 FotMob rating
- 1.90 shots on target per game (2nd best)
- .85 xG& xA per game (3rd best)
- Over 2 key passes per game
- Strong progressive carry numbers (fotmob.com)
2025/26 — Eredivisie
- 15 goals (5th best)
- 8 assists (9th best)
- 7.90 FotMob rating (2nd best)
- 1.90 shots on target per game
- .85 xG& xA per game
- 2.00 successful dribbles per 90 (fotmob.com)
IMPORTANT CONTEXT
These are not the numbers of a touchline winger stat-padding against weak Eredivisie defences. Saibari operates centrally, attacks dangerous areas aggressively, and consistently gets himself into scoring positions. Of the 26 league goals he has scored across the last two seasons, only one has come from the penalty spot. That immediately tells you something important: this is a player generating chances naturally through movement, timing, and attacking instinct rather than simply inflating numbers from dead balls.
Saibari is particularly dangerous arriving late into the box, attacking second phases, or receiving around the edge of the area with space opening up ahead of him. His movement is proactive rather than passive. He does not wait for the game to arrive at him — he attacks it.
Of course, there is still a “but.” As exciting as the output looks, Saibari has also missed an incredible 31 big chances across the last two seasons. In 2024/25 he averaged 3.80 shots per 90, rising to 4.20 shots per 90 in 2025/26. One interpretation of that is wastefulness. Another is that he consistently gets himself into dangerous positions at elite frequency. The reality is probably somewhere in the middle.
PASSING
Saibari is a very capable passer, although perhaps not quite in the way people traditionally imagine an attacking midfielder. My better half once asked me how professional footballers are able to just pass the ball exactly where they want. Admittedly, I didn’t offer her much insight at the time because Leeds were playing and I was too busy biting my nails and shouting at the TV. Anyway, back to Saibari.
He can combine sharply, and release runners quickly. Something that could be ideal for someone like Noah Okafor. But he occasionally forces play, overcomplicates attacks, or misses calmer options. This would be something he would need to work on in the Premier League as often one simple mistake can be punished ruthlessly.
OFF-BALL MOVEMENT
Something I’ve always noted about Saibari is his ability to drift into spaces. As a player operating centrally, he often appears wide on the flank where he can isolate defenders and attack them directly. He’s also very good at arriving late centrally – something Frank Lampard built a career around. Because Saibari will drift and search for spaces, it makes him a difficult player to mark.
PRESS RESISTANCE
He’s not the type of player who is silky in tiny spaces. His press resistance comes more through power and athletic escape ability than through pure small-space manipulation.
DEFENSIVE WORK
Hmmmmm. This is where the concerns begin. Saibari can defend aggressively but his defensive consistency fluctuates badly at times. There are matches where he looks engaged, intense, and physically disruptive. Then there are matches where he drifts entirely defensively. This is not something that Leeds can afford in a Premier League division that is now incredibly strong. Nor is it something that Daniel Farke would stand for. The Premier League punishes tactically loose attacking midfielders, inconsistent runners, and passive defenders. Saibari’s physical profile will translate to the division. His tactical discipline may not.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CONTEXT
According to Global Football Rankings, the Eredivisie is ranked as the 11th strongest league in Men’s Football. Dominating sides in this league can look great on paper, but when you consider that the Eredivisie is 4 places beneath the EFL Championship, well then, reality starts to take shape. That’s why his performances in the Champions League matter because we know that Saibari has already performed against stronger athletes, under higher intensity, and within elite transitional matches. This matters more than simply dominating weaker Eredivisie sides.
BEST ROLE AT LEEDS
If we’re being completely honest with ourselves, Leeds United desperately need an upgrade on Brenden Aaronson this summer. Saibari would instantly improve progression, physicality, attacking unpredictability, and central dynamism. He would be best deployed as:
- right-sided attacking midfielder,
- hybrid 8/10,
- or inverted creator.
and has the potential to be devastating alongside runners beyond him, aggressive overlapping full-backs, and mobile forwards.
There’s obviously a huge caveat here in terms of league strength. Doing this in the Eredivisie is not the same as doing it in the Premier League and anyone pretending otherwise is kidding themselves. But even with that disclaimer attached, the comparison is still really interesting. Saibari simply looks far more aggressive and inventive in possession. The volume of carries, touches in the opposition box, shot creation and overall attacking output suggests a player constantly trying to impact games rather than simply facilitate them. Aaronson’s engine and work rate are undeniable, but Saibari appears much more natural as a final-third footballer — someone who can actually hurt teams rather than just press them into submission.
FINANCIAL CONTEXT
This is where the difficulty begins. Saibari’s market value is growing steadily. Football Transfers values him at €31.2 million whereas he currently sits at €40 million according to Transfermarkt. Realistically, PSV are likely to demand £35m+.
This could potentially become more if multiple Premier League clubs enter, or Champions League interest intensifies. Leeds’ pursuit of striker Jørgen Strand Larsen in January, and their willingness to pay a large transfer fee, gives me hope that at least one big deal can be made this summer. But if the player has a good World Cup, it’s likely that his market value will continue to grow.
WHAT HE IS BAD AT
This is where realistic analysis matters.
1. Defensive Discipline
As addressed earlier, he is inconsistent here. He has a tendency to switch off, lose runners, and drift structurally. This is the biggest concern.
2. Tempo Management
He can occasionally force chaos unnecessarily.
3. Decision-Making Consistency
Saibari can become impatient, overly aggressive, or too direct. Especially when frustrated.
4. Possession Patience
He’s not naturally a rhythm controller. He prefers attacking, progressing, accelerating. Not recycling possession calmly. That’s easy to do as the best team in a weak division. Not so much in the Premier League.
CURRENT LEVEL
Saibari is top-level Eredivisie attacking midfielder already capable of Champions League football, major attacking responsibility, and upper-level league contribution. He has a high ceiling with the potential to become an elite Premier League attacking midfielder. But the tactical development still matters.
Without that, he is just an explosive but tactically inconsistent creator whose defensive weaknesses, positional looseness, and decision-making will prevent him from progressing to a top level.
STRENGTHS
- Explosive carrying
- Transition dominance
- Physical profile
- Goal threat
- Versatility
- Athleticism
- Progressive movement
- Dynamic attacking play
- Press resistance
- Ball striking
WEAKNESSES
- Defensive consistency
- Tactical discipline
- Tempo management
- Decision-making variance
- Positional looseness
- Can disappear without involvement
OVERALL LEEDS VERDICT
I genuinely believe Saibari is exactly the type of signing capable of instantly raising Leeds United’s athletic ceiling, attacking unpredictability, and overall quality in transition. He is not yet the finished article and still requires coaching, tactical refinement, and greater defensive discipline. Ironically, that is probably the very thing that gives Leeds a realistic chance of signing him in the first place. But, as we’ve seen countless times before, footballers rarely wait until they are fully developed before jumping towards Europe’s elite clubs. And yet, if Leeds somehow manage to pull off a signing like this, those dreams of European nights under the lights at Elland Road might not feel quite so impossible after all.
