Monaco’s summer work is set to continue beyond the pitch, with Safouane Benzahra preparing to turn a strong first year in red and white into his first professional contract.
Monaco ready to reward Benzahra and Haddani
The 19-year-old Dutch-Moroccan midfielder is expected to be among a small group of academy players signing professional terms at the club within the next 48 hours. Melvin Gomes is also due to be included, while the full list has not yet emerged.
Benzahra arrived from NAC Breda in the summer of 2025 on a trainee deal and quickly caught the attention of Filipe Luis during pre-season. His display off the bench in Monaco’s 3-2 win at Liverpool, played at Anfield, marked one of the early signs that he could step into the senior picture.
He has since made three first-team appearances. Benzahra was used as a substitute in both Conference League play-off matches against Gornik Zabrze, which Monaco won 3-2 and 4-1, and also featured briefly in Ligue 1 during the 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes.
Forward Nahël Haddani, 17, is also expected to sign professional terms. Like Benzahra, he joined Monaco in summer 2025, arriving as one of 11 young post-academy recruits brought into the club’s development system.
The planned contracts underline Monaco’s willingness to promote players who have made an impression quickly after arriving, with Benzahra already gaining a foothold around the first-team squad.
SEO Title: Monaco set to hand professional contract to Safouane Benzahra
SEO Description: Monaco are expected to reward 19-year-old midfielder Safouane Benzahra with a professional deal, with Nahël Haddani also due to sign.
