Bilal El Khannouss

Bilal El Khannouss (; born 10 May 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart. Born in Belgium, he plays for the Morocco national team.

Club career Genk El Khannouss joined Anderlecht in 2009, but moved to Genk in 2019 due to a lack of playing opportunities. On 24 July 2020, he signed his first professional contract. He made his league debut on 21 May 2022 in a 0–0 draw against Mechelen.

On 1 November 2023, El Khannouss was nominated for the 2023 African Young Player of the Year by CAF.

Leicester City El Khannouss signed for Premier League club Leicester City on 29 August 2024 on a four-year deal for a reported £21m fee. He was assigned the number 11 shirt. His first start came in a 1–1 draw against Everton on 21 September 2024. He scored his first goal for the Foxes on 3 December 2024 in a 3–1 home league victory against West Ham United.

VfB Stuttgart On 1 September 2025, El Khannouss joined VfB Stuttgart on loan. Later that month, on 19 September, he scored his first goal in a 2–0 victory over St. Pauli. On 25 May 2026, his loan spell was made permanent as he signed a long-term contract with the club.

International career Born in Belgium, El Khannouss is of Moroccan descent with origins in Tangier. A former youth international for Belgium, El Khannous switched to represent the Morocco U20s.

On 10 November 2022, he was named in Morocco's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. On 17 December, he made his international debut in the World Cup third-place playoff against Croatia, which ended in a 2–1 defeat.

In June 2023, he was included in the final squad of the under-23 national team for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Morocco itself, where the Atlas Lions won their first title, and qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics. On 21 March 2025, he scored his first international goal in a 2–1 victory over Niger during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.

On 11 December 2025, El Khannouss was called up to the Morocco squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

On 26 May 2026, El Khannouss was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Career statistics Club

International

Morocco score listed first, score column indicates score after each El Khannouss goal.

Honours VfB Stuttgart DFB-Pokal runner-up: 2025–26

Morocco U23 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations: 2023

Morocco Africa Cup of Nations: 2025

Individual Belgian Golden Shoe Best Young Player: 2022, 2024 Belgian Lion Award: 2023 2022 Genk Player of the Season: 2023–24 Belgian Pro League Young Professional Footballer of the Season: 2023–24

Orders Order of the Throne: 2022