Anass Salah-Eddine: Roma’s New Dutch-Moroccan Talent on the Left Flank

Roma’s transfer deadline day brought three significant additions to Claudio Ranieri’s squad. While Gourna-Douath may be the most recognized name, Anass Salah-Eddine, a 21-year-old Dutch left-back of Moroccan descent, could prove to be equally impactful. The youngster joined Roma from Twente for a fee of €8 million plus €2 million in bonuses.

Born in Amsterdam to a family with Moroccan roots, Salah-Eddine has experienced several of the Netherlands’ top youth academies. He began his journey with AFC, an Ajax satellite club, before moving to AZ Alkmaar. In 2018, Ajax’s youth sector officially acquired him. His professional career took off with a loan to Twente in 2022, which was made permanent in January 2024 for approximately €750,000.

As a natural left-back, Salah-Eddine is known for his tactical intelligence and solid defensive skills, offering a more balanced approach compared to Angelino. Accustomed to playing in a four-man defense, he has already made 26 appearances this season in the Eredivisie and Europa League, contributing 2 goals and 4 assists.

Off the pitch, Salah-Eddine has represented the Netherlands at various youth levels, from Under-15 to Under-21, where he has already earned 9 caps. He has a keen interest in fashion, favoring certain brands in his personal style. Additionally, he enjoys the thrill of motorcycles, particularly motocross bikes.