Hamza El Kaouakibi remains in South Tyrol.

FC Südtirol extends contract with El Kaouakibi

FC Südtirol is delighted to announce that Hamza El Kaouakibi has extended his contract until June 30, 2028. The 27-year-old defender's contract was originally set to expire at the end of this season.

04 December 2025

From: pm

El Kaouakibi first joined FC Südtirol on loan from Bologna in the summer of 2020. That season, he made a total of 32 appearances, including two in the Italian Cup and 30 in Serie C, contributing two goals and three assists. His impressive performances in Bolzano paved the way for his move to Serie B side Pordenone the following summer.

After one season with the "Ramarri," El Kaouakibi spent a year and a half under contract with Benevento before returning to South Tyrol in the winter of 2024. In the second half of that season, he made seven appearances for the Red and Whites in Serie B matches. On the third-to-last matchday, he scored the winning goal at home against Ternana, securing a 4-3 victory and guaranteeing FC Südtirol's survival in the top flight.

El Kaouakibi made 20 league appearances last season and secured the first victory of the Castori era with a last-minute goal in Bari, making it 1-0. This season, he has played nine times in Serie B and once in the Italian Cup, scoring his first goal of the campaign against Sampdoria on matchday two.

Statements: Hamza El Kaouakibi & Paolo Bravo

Hamza El Kaouakibi: “Extending my contract until 2028 is a great honor for me. I'm especially pleased because I see it as an expression of great appreciation. I will give everything to repay this trust. It gives me great pleasure to continue playing for a club that has developed so strongly in recent years. I hope to actively contribute to this growth process. The fact that I have been part of this club for many years and know the environment extremely well significantly influenced my decision to extend my contract. I feel very comfortable both at the club, which has always believed in me, and in the city. In terms of my role within the team, I am no longer one of the youngest players. Therefore, I strive to support the up-and-coming players without losing sight of learning from the most experienced players on the team. There is still much I can improve in. Today, I feel like a much more mature player than I did a few years ago; a development I owe to the club and my teammates, who have also enabled me to grow as a person.”

Paolo Bravo, Sporting Director of FC Südtirol: “El Kaouakibi is a player I have great confidence in, especially given his strong performances last year. I am firmly convinced that with the right physical consistency, he will be a significant asset for us. Therefore, we are very pleased to be able to continue our collaboration with Hamza.”