After Sunderland splashed nearly €200 million in the summer, it’s a 20-year-old who’s catching everyone’s eye. A brilliant season in Brugge earned him a move to the north of England. The Moroccan international is ready to help the Black Cats in their fight for survival – and maybe even more than that.

Success in Belgium

Seven goals and five assists in 44 appearances during the 2024/25 season – not bad at all for a 19-year-old at the time. He became both league champion and cup winner within just two seasons.

A serious injury and a spell with Club NXT disrupted his progress during the 2023/24 campaign, but Talbi bounced back. After a shaky start the following season, he secured his place in the starting XI during the second half of the campaign. Brugge narrowly lost out on the title, finishing just three points behind Royale Union Saint-Gilloise after the playoffs. Still, the team lifted the Belgian Cup with a 2–1 win over Anderlecht.

Making His Mark in Europe

Talbi also made waves in the Champions League. Club Brugge enjoyed a remarkable run, reaching the Round of 16. Famous wins over Aston Villa and Sporting Lisbon, plus a draw against Juventus, opened the door to the knockout phase.

There, Talbi shone with two goals and an assist in victories over Atalanta, helping Brugge advance further. Fate brought another clash with Aston Villa, and this time the English side prevailed. Even so, Talbi left a lasting impression with his performances on the wing.

Waiting for the American Summer

With the World Cup on the horizon next summer, Talbi’s focus will also turn to securing his place in Morocco’s squad. He already made his debut against Niger in a qualifier. After Morocco’s historic semi-final run at the last World Cup, expectations will be sky-high. With stars like Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bounou, Bilal El Khannouss, and Brahim Diaz leading the way, Morocco will look to build on that success. Talbi will be hoping to play his part in writing the next chapter of this remarkable journey.