Biography
Who is Ismael Saibari?
Early life and background
Ismael Saibari was born on January 28, 2001, in Terrassa, Spain. He belongs to a Moroccan family that originally comes from Ksar el-Kebir. During his infancy, he dealt with a clubfoot malformation that required him to wear orthopedic braces for more than a year. This condition meant he did not take his first independent steps until he was two years old.
At the age of six, his family relocated to Willebroek, Belgium. He grew up in this Belgian town before eventually moving to the Netherlands alone in 2020. Ismael Saibari holds citizenship for three different nations: Morocco, Spain, and Belgium. He is also multilingual, with the ability to speak Arabic, English, French, Spanish, and Dutch.
Club career and achievements
His footballing path began in the youth academies of Beerschot, Anderlecht, KV Mechelen, and KRC Genk. He joined PSV Eindhoven in July 2020, initially playing for Jong PSV in the Eerste Divisie. He made his senior Eredivisie debut for the club on November 1, 2020, against ADO Den Haag. By August 2023, he scored his first goal for the team against Vitesse.
He played a significant role in PSV winning the Eredivisie titles during the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 seasons. During the 2025-26 campaign, he earned the Player of the Year award after scoring 15 goals and providing 8 assists. On October 26, 2025, he recorded his first professional hat-trick in a match against Feyenoord. His success at the club led to a transfer to Bayern Munich on July 1, 2026, for a fee of 50 million euros.
International career and World Cup
Although he was eligible to play for Belgium or Spain, Ismael Saibari chose to represent Morocco. He progressed through the Moroccan youth ranks, including the under-15, under-16, and under-20 levels. He was a member of the Morocco U23 squad that won the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations. This victory helped the team qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he scored three goals for Morocco. His goals came in matches against Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti. He also successfully converted the winning penalty during a shootout against the Netherlands in the round of 32. However, a hamstring injury sustained during a match against Canada prevented him from playing in the quarter-final against France.
Ismael's height and playing style
Standing at 185 cm tall, he uses his physical build to help win the ball during matches. He can operate as a forward, a second striker, or an attacking midfielder. He is also capable of playing as a right winger or a central midfielder. His playstyle is defined by his ability to carry the ball through the midfield and break defensive lines.
He is noted for his positioning and his ability to make late runs into the penalty area. This makes him both a creator of chances and a consistent goalscorer. His contributions to his teams include effective pressing and strong off-the-ball movement.
Birthday and age
Ismael Saibari was born on January 28, 2001, which makes Ismael 25 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Ismael shares the date with 32 other famous people.
Explore more
