Long history, new approach

Wydad Athletic Club, also known as Wydad Casablanca, are the 22-time Moroccan champions and have won Africa's elite club competition - the CAF Champions League - twice in the last eight years.

Now they are preparing to test themselves against some of the biggest clubs in football, including Manchester City and Juventus in their group, at this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.

They are also making moves behind the scenes to elevate the club’s transfer strategy to match their international pedigree on the pitch. Wydad have become the first club from Morocco to join TransferRoom, world football’s only transfer marketplace.

TransferRoom gives over 800 clubs and 550 verified Trusted Agencies who are members of the platform direct access to the decision-makers at those clubs and agencies, as well as unrivalled market intelligence from more than 130 leagues.

For Directeur Général Youssef Debbagh, joining TransferRoom is about much more than streamlining deals. It’s about breaking barriers.

“As an African club, sometimes we are disconnected from the global network. Now with TransferRoom, we are a bit equal as the other clubs, whether it be the European, South American, Asian clubs,” he said in the video below.

By joining TransferRoom, Wydad gain direct access to real-time market intelligence across 130+ leagues. This includes key data like player availability, budget levels and club requirements, as well as comprehensive player, Head Coach and squad data including TransferRoom’s Expected Transfer Value (xTV) and Player Ratings.

“Football is a network business,” Youssef added. “With TransferRoom, we’re at the same level of networking, of getting in touch with other clubs. Now we can look at Man City or Juventus in the eyes and try to do something great.”

Marginal Gains, Massive Impact

Wydad’s transfer strategy, which has led to winning Africa’s elite club competition - the CAF Champions League - in the last three years, is guided by a three-pillar performance model: a growth mindset, marginal gains, and what Youssef calls “mental dominance.” TransferRoom fits squarely into this philosophy.

“With TransferRoom, we're looking for these marginal gains,” he said. “It’s a marketplace with transparency. You can reach out directly to clubs, agents and players, and do business together.”

That strategy is already paying off. Wydad recently completed two signings through the platform: striker Samuel Obeng (pictured below) from Casa Pia in Portugal and right-back Fahd Moufi from Hajduk Split in Croatia.

“We were looking for a striker with strength, impact, and runs in behind. Using TransferRoom’s filters, we found Obeng, reached out to Casa Pia, and closed the deal in 24 hours,” Youssef said. “There was no waste of time. The efficiency has really increased.”

Moufi’s deal was a hybrid one, already in motion through the player’s agent but accelerated via TransferRoom’s direct club-to-club communication.

Youssef added: “It aligns, in a way. And then, the deal was done even before the opening of the winter transfer window.”

A Club on the Rise, a Platform for the Future

With the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on the horizon and domestic ambitions firmly in place, timing is everything for Wydad. That’s why they also joined March 2025’s TransferRoom Summit, which brought together over 380 clubs and 60 agencies for two days of one-to-one meetings and exclusive networking in person, in Berlin, and an additional day of meetings online.

It was also the perfect timing to lay the groundwork for the final opportunity to sign players before the Club World Cup, in a critical 10-day transfer window in June.

TransferRoom enables the club to act decisively in that period and prepare the squad both for the international stage and the Moroccan championship next season.

“We have two objectives: strengthen the team for the World Cup, but also, in a more sustainable way, for the next step.”

“A strong network has to be authentic, and authenticity, you find it in meetings, in real life. I was at the TransferRoom Summit in Istanbul, now I’m here in Berlin. I think it’s very important to connect with our peers.”

Raising standards to natch the fanbase

Wydad fill their stadium with 45,000–50,000 passionate fans every match, and they have over 5.5million followers on social media. For Youssef, it’s now about aligning on-pitch results with that fervent support and the club’s international ambitions.

“The fans are already at an international level," he said. "The brand also. Now we need to perform at the same level, to be really aligned with FIFA’s strategy of building 50 top international clubs.”

Joining TransferRoom gives Wydad the tools and connections to do just that, and they will be pushing hard to make an impact against the world’s best when they travel to the United States for the Club World Cup.

Wydad Athletic Club are among more than 800 clubs using TransferRoom. You can find out how to join them here.

Agents, get access to the decision-makers at top clubs in over 130 leagues worldwide and land the best deal opportunities as a TransferRoom Trusted Agent. Find out more here.