Chemsdine Talbi

Chemsdine Talbi (born 9 May 2005) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for club Sunderland. Born in Belgium, he plays for the Morocco national team.

Club career

Club NXT Talbi was with Royale Union Tubize-Braine until 2015 when he joined Club Brugge. In July 2022 Talbi signed a three-year professional contract with Club Brugge into 2025. He started the 2022–23 season playing for Club NXT, in the Challenger Pro League, Belgian football's second division. He scored on his professional debut against SL16 FC in August 2022, and again the following week against Lierse Kempenzonen.

Club Brugge In February 2023, Talbi began training as part of the first team squad of Club Brugge. This was reported as a reward for his playing form. He made his league debut for Club Brugge on 18 March 2023 when he came on as a second-half substitute against KV Kortrijk.

Talbi would also score his first professional goal against Kortrijk in a 3–0 away win at the Guldensporen Stadion on 14 September 2024, Four days later, he made his UEFA Champions League debut as a substitute in a 3–0 loss to Borussia Dortmund.

On 18 February 2025, he scored his first Champions League goals, netting a brace in a 3–1 away victory against Atalanta in the second leg of the knockout play-offs, contributing to his team's progression to the Round of 16 with a 5–2 aggregate win, which earned him the player of the match award.

Sunderland On 9 July 2025, Talbi signed for newly promoted Premier League club Sunderland on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, reported to be worth £16.5 million plus a potential £2.5 million in add-ons. Later that year, on 25 October, he scored his first goal for the club in the stoppage time of a 2–1 away win over Chelsea.

International career Talbi was born in Belgium, the son of a Moroccan father and Belgian mother. He played for Belgium U17 in the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, scoring a goal in a 3–1 victory against Turkey U17.

On 3 March 2025, Talbi chose to represent Morocco. On 19 March, after he received his first call-up to the Morocco national team he described it as a "childhood dream come true".

On 11 December 2025, Talbi was called up to the Morocco squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. He was therefore called up to play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In Morocco's Round of 32 match against Netherlands, he scored his penalty attempt in the shootout, which Morocco ultimately won, 3–2.

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

Career statistics

Club

International

Honours Club Brugge Belgian Pro League: 2023–24 Belgian Cup: 2024–25

Morocco Africa Cup of Nations: 2025