From ‘Towel Drama’ villain to World Cup heroics: Inside Bayern Munich’s new gem Ismael Saibari
By Luke Oluoch, July 2, 2026Bayern Munich on Tuesday, July 1, 2026, officially announced the signing of Saibari from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on a five-year contract extending until June 30, 2031.
Born on January 28, 2001, in Terrassa, northwest of the Spanish port and football town of Barcelona, Saibari began his journey into professional football at RSC Anderlecht’s youth academy. After playing for the KRC Genk U19s, he joined PSV in the summer of 2020 and made his debut in the first division after just a few months.
Saibari leaves after six years, during which he rose through the ranks of the youth team to become a cult hero in the southern Netherlands and especially at the 36,500-capacity Philips Stadion.
Achievement
His stellar achievements include being a three-time Eredivisie title winner with the reigning Dutch champions, following a sensational season where Saibari scored 15 goals and was crowned the Dutch league Player of the Season.
Away from his acclaimed on-pitch impact, he was the villain during the AFCON 2025 final fiasco as Morocco and Senegal clashed for continental glory.
Perhaps a believer that the towel of opposing goalkeeper Édouard Mendy contained elements of juju or witchcraft, he camped by his goal even as the understudy kept guard of the piece of clothing for the goalkeeper’s use.
In a rebound from the AFCON heartbreak, Saibari has moved fast to be Morocco’s main man, taking the 2026 World Cup by storm. Attempting to make his name among the big-name strikers who have been firing at the World Cup, he opened his account by stunning the five-time world champions with a brilliantly lobbed effort that kicked off his scoring streak, and he never looked back.
He went on to make continental history, becoming the first African player in history to score in all three group-stage matches after adding goals against Scotland (1-0) and Haiti (4-2).
He later delivered the decisive spot-kick that eliminated the very nation that helped him hone his skills, with a decisive penalty that saw Morocco dump them out in Monterrey.
PSV farewell
His club has indeed sent an emotional farewell message to the star.
“Isi, this is the moment you have worked so incredibly hard for. Your dedication, talent, and perseverance have earned you this next step in your career. We are proud of everything you have achieved in Eindhoven, and we wish you all the very best in München. Keep shining,” the club’s farewell statement read.
Saibari is expected to link up with Bavaria after the World Cup. He will wear the number 34 jersey, continuing the tribute to honour former Ajax midfielder Abdelhak Nouri, a highly promising academy graduate who tragically suffered a cardiac arrest and permanent brain damage.
Following the 2017 mishap, his close friends and former teammates adopted the number 34 at their subsequent clubs as a tribute