Inter Milan Eye Young Moroccan Talent Moncef Zekri in €4.2m Deal
Inter Milan are closing in on the signing of 17-year-old Moroccan full-back Moncef Zekri from Belgian club Mechelen, according to reports in Italy. The young defender, who has been compared to Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi, is seen as a long-term prospect for the Serie A giants.
The deal, as reported by Italian media, would see Inter pay a fee in the region of €4.2 million to Mechelen. The proposed agreement is also said to include a 10% sell-on clause for the Belgian club, and a plan for Zekri to remain on loan at Mechelen for the 2026-27 season to continue his development with regular first-team football. Inter's strategy appears to be securing the player's signature now before his value potentially skyrockets.
Zekri, a left-back who can also play further forward, is considered one of Morocco's most promising young talents. Born in Brussels, he progressed through the youth academies of OH Leuven and Sint-Truiden before making his professional debut for Mechelen in May 2025. This season, the 17-year-old has broken into the first-team setup, making 17 senior appearances, 11 of which were starts. His performances have reportedly attracted attention from several clubs, including Premier League side Brentford, as well as Lille, Ajax, PSV, and Bayer Leverkusen in recent months.
For Inter, the move aligns with a clear and recent shift in their transfer policy under the ownership of Oaktree Capital. The Nerazzurri have made a concerted effort to invest in and develop young talent, moving away from the more financially constrained, big-money signings of the Suning era. The potential acquisition of Zekri fits a clear pattern. This season alone, Inter have signed 18-year-old Croatian defender Luka Vušković (immediately loaned to Hajduk Split), 18-year-old Croatian defender Patrik Zekić, and 23-year-old midfielder Yanis Massolin, who was signed and loaned to Serie B side Modena.
The club has also secured the return of striker Pio Esposito and is set to re-sign Aleksandar Stankovic from Club Brugge using a buy-back clause. The potential signing of Zekri is viewed as part of this same forward-planning strategy. The left side of Inter's defense is currently well-staffed with Federico Dimarco and Carlos Augusto, while young talent Mattia Cocchi is also emerging. The move for Zekri, therefore, is a long-term investment in a player who would not be expected to contribute immediately to the first team.
Zekri is considered a major prospect for the Moroccan national team, with many in his home country viewing him as a potential star for the 2026 World Cup cycle and beyond. His potential signing is part of a broader, more aggressive youth recruitment drive by Inter's sporting CEO, Giuseppe Marotta, and the club's scouting department. The club is also heavily linked with a major move for 17-year-old Serbian attacking midfielder Vasilije Kostić of Red Star Belgrade, a deal that would represent a much larger financial commitment. The pursuit of Zekri, a relatively low-risk investment in a high-potential teenager, exemplifies Inter's renewed focus on building for the future under their new ownership.
