COLUMBUS – Prior to yesterday’s close of Major League Soccer’s Secondary Transfer Window, the Columbus Crew acquired midfielder Anass Zaroury from Greek Super League 1 side Panathinaikos FC via loan through the 2027 MLS Sprint Season with a club option for a permanent transfer. Zaroury will occupy an international roster slot and will be added to the Crew roster pending receipt of his P-1 Visa.
“Anass is a technical and audacious player who offers additional creativity and experience to our roster,” said Crew General Manager Issa Tall. “He has showcased his skillset at various leagues in Europe, and we’re excited to welcome Anass to the Black & Gold.”
On loan with Panathinaikos for the 2025-26 before fully signing with the club on May 22, Zaroury appeared in 50 matches across all competitions. He recorded eight goals and four assists last year, highlighted by a hat trick in Panathinaikos’ UEFA Europa League match against Switzerland’s BSC Young Boys on Sept. 25, 2025.
The midfielder joined English side Burnley FC ahead of the 2022-23 season and helped the club earn promotion to the English Premier League after amassing 101 points in the EFL Championship, the fifth-highest total in league history. Across three seasons with Burnley, he made 49 appearances, tallying 10 goals and nine assists. During the 2023-24 season, the Mechelen, Belgium, native was loaned to Hull City AFC, where he logged two goals across 12contests.
Prior to his time in Greece, Zaroury joined French side RC Lens for the 2024-25 season, totaling 28 appearances, two goals and three assists.
A product of Zulte Waregem’s youth academy, Zaroury joined Belgian side Lommel SK and made his professional debut on Aug. 3, 2019. He recorded eight goals and four assists in 33 games for Lommel. In 2021, Zaroury moved to Sporting Charleroi, where he featured in 44 matches and registered seven goals and one assist.
The 25-year-old made 14 appearances for Belgium’s youth national teams at the Under-17 through U-21 levels, recording one goal and one assist. The forward chose to represent Morocco at the senior level, making his international debut on Nov. 17, 2022, against Georgia. Zaroury, who has four senior caps for Morrocco, played 26 minutes in the side's Third Place match at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
TRANSACTION: Prior to yesterday's close of Major League Soccer's Secondary Transfer Window, the Columbus Crew acquired midfielder Anass Zaroury from Greek Super League 1 side Panathinaikos FC via loan through the 2027 MLS Sprint Season with a club option for a permanent transfer, announced on Sept. 3, 2026.
Name: Anass Zaroury
Pronunciation: AH-nass zah-rohr-ree
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’9”
Born: Nov. 7, 2000, in Mechelen, Belgium
Citizenship: Morocco
Acquired: Via loan on Sept. 3, 2026
Previous Experience: Panathinaikos FC (2025-26); RC Lens (2024-26); Burnley FC (2022-24); Hull City AFC (2024); Lommel SK (2021); Sporting Charleroi (2021-22); Lommel SK (2019-21)
