Youssef Maleh (Arabic: يوسف مالح; born 22 August 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Empoli, on loan from Lecce. Born in Italy, he plays for the Morocco national team.

Youssef Maleh
يوسف مالح
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-08-22) 22 August 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Castel San Pietro Terme, Italy
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Empoli
(on loan from Lecce)
Number 93
Youth career
0000–2017 Cesena
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 Cesena 0 (0)
2018Ravenna (loan) 9 (0)
2018–2021 Venezia 38 (2)
2018–2019Ravenna (loan) 23 (1)
2021–2023 Fiorentina 35 (2)
2021Venezia (loan) 23 (4)
2023Lecce (loan) 17 (0)
2023– Lecce 0 (0)
2023–Empoli (loan) 34 (0)
International career
2020–2021 Italy U21 5 (1)
2021– Morocco 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 June 2023 (UTC)

Club career

edit

Maleh began his career at Cesena and made his professional debut while on loan at Ravenna on 27 January 2018, in a Serie C 1–1 draw to Teramo.[1] On 31 July 2018, he signed for Venezia and subsequently rejoined Ravenna on another loan for the 2018–19 season.

On 21 January 2021, Fiorentina announced the signing of Maleh on a permanent deal, while also confirming that he would finish the 2020–21 season at Venezia.[2]

On 3 January 2023, Maleh joined Lecce on loan until the end of the season. Lecce held an obligation to buy his rights if the club remained in Serie A.[3]

On 31 August 2023, Maleh moved on loan to Empoli, with an option to buy.[4]

International career

edit

Maleh was born in Italy and is of Moroccan descent.[5] He made his debut with the Italy U21 on 3 September 2020, in a friendly match won 2–1 against Slovenia.[6]

In August 2021, Maleh was first called-up to the Morocco national team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification games against Sudan and Guinea in September.[7]

Career statistics

edit

Club

edit
As of match played 15 March 2024[8]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ravenna (loan) 2017–18 Serie C 9 0 9 0
2018–19 Serie C 23 1 2 0 25 1
Total 32 1 2 0 0 0 34 1
Venezia 2019–20 Serie B 28 1 2 0 30 1
2020–21 Serie B 33 5 0 0 33 5
Total 61 6 2 0 0 0 63 6
Fiorentina 2021–22 Serie A 28 2 5 1 33 3
2022–23 Serie A 7 0 0 0 5 0 12 0
Total 35 2 5 1 5 0 45 3
Lecce (loan) 2022–23 Serie A 17 0 17 0
Empoli (loan) 2023–24 Serie A 26 0 26 0
Career total 171 9 9 1 5 0 185 10

References

edit
  1. ^ "Game Report by Soccerway". Soccerway. 27 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Maleh is a Fiorentina player". ACF Fiorentina. 21 January 2021.
  3. ^ "MALEH È UN CALCIATORE DEL LECCE". www.uslecce.it (in Italian). 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Youssef Maleh è un nuovo calciatore azzurro" [Youssef Maleh is a new blue footballer] (in Italian). Empoli. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  5. ^ Carrara, Federico (11 September 2020). "Chi è Youssef Maleh, l'italo-marocchino che piace alla Sampdoria".
  6. ^ "Youssef Maleh". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Prima convocazione per Youssef Maleh con la Nazionale marocchina. C'è anche Amrabat". Fiorentinanews.com | Calciomercato Fiorentina Notizie Viola (in Italian). 26 August 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  8. ^ Youssef Maleh at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
edit