Aberdeen FC has finalized the signing of Moroccan international striker Ayoub Mouloua from FUS Rabat, the club announced on Saturday.
The 23-year-old forward agreed to a three-year contract at Pittodrie, which includes a club option for a fourth year, after successfully passing his medical examination at Cormack Park.
The transfer fee is an undisclosed six-figure sum, subject to international clearance and visa formalities.
Mouloua becomes the eighth permanent summer signing for manager Stephen Robinson, following extensive scouting by sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel and head of recruitment Darren Mowbray.
Robinson expressed satisfaction with the acquisition, noting that the recruitment team monitored the striker in Morocco over several months to evaluate his playing style and character.
"We have been tracking Ayoub for several months now and have made a number of trips to Morocco to watch him play and get a real feel for the type of player and person he is," said Robinson.
The manager highlighted the forward's physical presence, mobility, and work ethic as key attributes that will bolster the team's attacking options.
"He's a brave, aggressive striker who will give us a real physical presence in attack, but he's much more than that.
He's mobile, works tirelessly for the team and has shown he knows where the goal is," Robinson added.
Robinson further noted that the club sees substantial potential for development in the young attacker, who previously scored 19 goals in 41 starts for FUS Rabat.
"He's still only 23 and we believe there is significant room for growth in his game, which is one of the reasons we were so keen to bring him to Aberdeen," he said.
Acknowledging the transition to Scottish football, the manager emphasized that Aberdeen will provide full support to help the striker adapt to cultural and linguistic changes.
"Clearly, moving to Scotland represents a significant cultural change and we'll support Ayoub through that transition as he settles into the area, perfects the language and gets to grips with the demands of Scottish football," Robinson said.
Mouloua, who developed through the FUS Rabat youth system, finished the 2024/25 Botola Pro campaign as the league's joint top scorer with 11 goals.
His domestic form earned him two senior international caps for Morocco in the African Nations Championship against Angola and Kenya.
He becomes the second player to transfer directly from Rabat to Aberdeen after the late Hicham Zerouali in 1999.
Mouloua expressed his appreciation to his former team while looking forward to the competitive environment in Scotland.
"It is a great honour to have the opportunity to join a Club with the history and stature of Aberdeen," said Mouloua.
"I will always be grateful to everyone at FUS Rabat, the Club where I began my career, but I felt this was the right opportunity to continue my development and challenge myself in a new environment," he added.
The striker concluded by sharing his enthusiasm to begin training with his new teammates ahead of his debut at Pittodrie.
"I can't wait to get to know my teammates and I will work as hard as I can every day to help bring success to the Club and our supporters," Mouloua said.
