Rayan Buifrahi
Personal information
Full name Rayan Buifrahi Khbiez[1]
Date of birth (2005-03-13) 13 March 2005
Place of birth Brussels, Belgium
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger, attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 MVV
Number 11
Youth career
2010–2012 SC Wolvertem
2012–2017 Anderlecht
2017–2020 Club Brugge
2020–2023 Oostende
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– MVV 15 (0)
International career
2021 Belgium U15 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:49, 5 January 2024 (UTC)

Rayan Buifrahi Khbiez (born 26 March 2004) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for Eerste Divisie club MVV.

Club career

Early years

Buifrahi was born in Brussels, Belgium. Born to Moroccan parents from Tétouan in northern Morocco, he grew up in Wemmel, on the outskirts of Brussels before later moving to Merchtem. His bond with football ignited early in life: "I always had a ball at my feet, even in nursery," he recalled. This ardor was inherited from his father, an avid fan of the sport, whom he frequently joined along with his grandfather to watch matches.[1]

His journey into organised football commenced when his gym teacher noticed his talent in first grade and recommended Buifrahi's parents enroll him at the local club SC Wolvertem. During an impressive performance against a youth team from Anderlecht, scouts from the prestigious club approached him. Initially cautious due to their son's young age, Buifrahi's parents were eventually persuaded and allowed him to join Anderlecht's esteemed youth setup.[1] He remained with Anderlecht until the age of 12, then caught the eye of another esteemed youth academy, Club Brugge.[3] He remained there until his under-16 years when the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic led him to make a move to Oostende.[4]

Buifrahi showcased exceptional talent during the 2022–23 season with his youth team, scoring 25 goals and providing 17 assists.[1][5] Despite his efforts, he faced challenges making a breakthrough into the struggling first team at that time, which eventually faced relegation from the Belgian Pro League. Buifrahi attributed his inability to debut professionally for Oostende to the complexities of integrating young players into a struggling senior squad. Additionally, he cited internal unrest within the team as a contributing factor that led to his departure following the season.[1]

MVV

On 2 June 2023, Buifrahi signed with Dutch second-tier Eerste Divisie club MVV, despite receiving offers from "Belgian top clubs", according to MVV's technical director Ronny Van Geneugden.[6] He signed a two-year contract with an option for an additional year.[5]

Buifrahi made his professional debut on the first matchday of the season, starting in a 3–1 win over VVV-Venlo.[7][8] On 6 October, he recorded his first assist, setting up Mart Remans' 1–1 equaliser in an eventual 3–2 away victory against Jong PSV.[9] He scored his professional goal on 2 November, breaking the deadlock in the 18th minute during MVV's first-round match in the KNVB Cup against Cambuur. Unfortunately, despite his goal, MVV suffered a 4–1 defeat, resulting in their elimination from the tournament.[10]

International career

Buifrahi holds one cap with the Belgium national under-15 team. While expressing an interest in representing Morocco at the international level in the future, he expressed that he did not rule out the possibility of playing for Belgium as well.[11][1]

Style of play

Buifrahi has showcased his attacking skills primarily as a winger or attacking midfielder. Despite labeling himself as a slow maturer, a factor that affected his tenure at Club Brugge, he displayed adeptness in scoring goals and providing assists during his youth career.[11] His style has been influenced by prominent figures in football like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Eden Hazard, serving as major inspirations in shaping his gameplay.[1]

Career statistics

As of match played 15 December 2023[12]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
MVV 2023–24 Eerste Divisie 14011—151
Career total 1401100151

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ajari, Nawfel (15 December 2023). "Rayan Buifrahi : "Ce serait une fierté de jouer pour le Maroc"". DM SPORT (in French). Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
    2. ↑ "R. Buifrahi: Profiel". Voetbal International. PXR. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
    3. ↑ Rossel, Peter (2 June 2023). "KV Oostende verliest aanvallend toptalent aan MVV Maastricht". KW.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
    4. ↑ Delbeke, Michael (8 November 2023). "Vorig seizoen geen kans bij KV Oostende, nu al zes basisplaatsen in de Keuken Kampioen Divisie: Rayan Buifrahi (18) timmert bij MVV Maastricht aan de weg hogerop". Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
    5. 1 2 "MVV legt toptalent Rayan Buifrahi vast". MVV Maastricht (Press release) (in Dutch). 2 June 2023. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
    6. ↑ "MVV 'troeft Belgische topclubs af' en presenteert Buifrahi". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 2 June 2023. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
    7. ↑ "VVV vs. MVV 1–3: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
    8. ↑ "MVV opent eerste divisie met winst in Limburgse derby bij VVV, Willem II speelt gelijk". NOS (in Dutch). 13 August 2023. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
    9. ↑ "Jong PSV–MVV Maastricht (06-10-2023)". Voetbal International (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
    10. ↑ "Cambuur na ruime zege op MVV naar tweede ronde KNVB-beker". RTL (in Dutch). 2 November 2023. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
    11. 1 2 Sterpigny, Sébastien (4 April 2023). "Le Bruxellois Rayan Buifrahi cartonne avec les U21 d'Ostende : "Je suis prêt pour la prochaine étape"". DHnet (in French). Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
    12. ↑ Rayan Buifrahi at Soccerway. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
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