Sofiane Boufal is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgian Professional Football League.
He also represents the Moroccan national team. Renowned for his exceptional dribbling ability, Boufal is adept at passing defenders with ease, consistently creating scoring opportunities for both himself and his teammates.
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- Full name: Sofiane Boufal
- Stage name: Sofiane Boufal
- Date of birth: September 17, 1993
- Age: 31 years old
- Place of birth: Paris, France
- Nationality: French-Moroccan
- Occupation: Moroccan professional football player
- Height: 1.75 m
- Parent: Zoubida Belmoulat
- Siblings: Aicha Boufal
- Spouse: Unknown
- Children: Unknown
- Relationship: Unknown
- Net worth: £16 million
Early life and education
Sofiane Boufal was born on September 17, 1993 in Paris, France, to Moroccan parents. He was born to parents whose mother’s name is Zoubida Belmoulat, while details about his father are unknown. Boufal’s parents divorced when he was three years old and he has a twin sister named Aicha Boufal.
Boufal attended primary school in France, where education is compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 16. Although he studied hard, his main focus from an early age was football. He is of Moroccan ethnicity. His parents are Moroccan immigrants, he was born in Paris, France and he follows Islam as his religion.
Career
Sofiane Boufal began his professional career at Angers SCO, where he quickly emerged as a promising talent. Coming through the club’s youth academy, he made his senior debut at the age of 18, replacing Rayan Frikeche in a Ligue 2 match against Istres in August 2012.
The following season, Boufal secured a starting spot, making a significant contribution with 31 appearances in all competitions. His efforts culminated in the 2014–15 season when he played a key role in helping Angers win promotion to Ligue 1. This impressive trajectory attracted the attention of football clubs. top-flight club, leading to his move to Lille on 9 January 2015, where he scored three goals in his first 14 matches.
At Lille, Boufal continued to shine, demonstrating his attacking ability by scoring 12 goals in 35 appearances during the 2015–16 season. His outstanding performances earned him a move to the Premier League, joining Southampton on 29 August 2016 for a club record fee of £16 million.
Despite showing flashes of form, including a memorable solo goal against West Bromwich Albion, Boufal’s time at Southampton was hampered by inconsistent form and injury. In July 2018, he was loaned to La Liga side Celta Vigo, where he rediscovered his form and played a key role throughout the 2018–19 season.
Returning to Southampton for the 2019–20 season, Boufal’s momentum was interrupted by a horror toe injury suffered at home, limiting his contributions.
On 5 October 2020, Boufal returned to Angers on a free transfer, reuniting with his first club and delivering solid performances. After two seasons, he started a new chapter when he joined Al-Rayyan SC in Qatar on January 31, 2023.
During his time in Qatar, Boufal made an immediate impact when he debuted against Al-Gharafa SC and scored his first goal in the clash with Al-Duhail SC. On 3 September 2024, he moved to Belgian Professional League club Union Saint-Gilloise, marking another step forward in his club career.
Internationally, Boufal made his Morocco debut on 26 March 2016 in a 1–0 win over Cape Verde in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. He represented Morocco at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations but missed a penalty in the shootout loss to Benin in the Round of 16.
Boufal’s first international goal came in a 4–1 win over Guinea in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier. His contributions earned him a place in Morocco’s 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup , where he played a key role in the team’s historic run to the semi-finals.
Social Media
- Instagram handle: @sofianeboufal_19
- Facebook manager: Sofiane Boufal
- Twitter name: @sosoboufal19
Personal life
Sofiane Boufal is known to keep her personal life private, with no public records confirming a serious relationship or spouse. Although he has been linked to many women in the past, he has not revealed any details about his current dating status.
Net worth
According to various sources such as Wikipedia and Forbes, Sofiane Boufal’s net worth is estimated to be around $116 million.
This impressive wealth is largely thanks to his successful football career, which includes lucrative contracts with famous clubs and contracts with major brands.