Issam El Maach
Dutch-Moroccan footballer (born 2001)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Issam El Maach (Arabic: عصام المعاش; born 1 February 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Eredivisie club Twente.[2] Born in the Netherlands, he represents Morocco at youth international level.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Issam El Maach | ||
| Date of birth | 1 February 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Heerlen, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Twente | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| RKSV MULO | |||
| –2016 | VVV-Venlo | ||
| 2016–2017 | Vitesse | ||
| 2017–2019 | Ajax | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2020 | Jong Ajax | 4 | (0) |
| 2018–2020 | Ajax | 0 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | RKC Waalwijk | 1 | (0) |
| 2022– | Twente | 0 | (0) |
| 2025 | → Roda (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2016 | Morocco U17 | 1 | (0) |
| 2017 | Netherlands U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 2018 | Morocco U23 | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18 January 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 17 May 2019 | |||
Club career
Early career
Born in Heerlen and raised in Helmond to Moroccan parents, El Maach began his football career with local club RKSV MULO before being recruited to the youth ranks of VVV-Venlo.[3]In 2016 he moved to the youth academy of SBV Vitesse, from where he was scouted and joined the Ajax Youth Academy a year later.[4]
Ajax
El Maach signed a two-year contract with Ajax in 2017 with an option for an additional year.[5] He made his professional debut with the reserves team Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie on 18 January 2018 in a 4–1 loss to RKC Waalwijk. Jong Ajax ended the season as champions of the second division, becoming the first reserves team to win a championship since the introduction of reserves teams in professional football in the Netherlands.[6]
He made his first team debut on 11 January 2019 in a friendly game against Brazilian club Flamengo in the Florida Cup.[7]
On 26 June 2020, it was announced that El Maach contract was not going to be extended leaving him eligible to find a new club.[8]
RKC Waalwijk
On 14 July 2021, El Maach signed a one-year contract with Eredivisie club RKC Waalwijk.[9]
Twente
On 25 July 2022, El Maach joined Twente on a two-year deal, with an option for an additional year.[10]
On 7 January 2025, he joined Roda JC on loan for the remainder of the 2024–25 season.[11] He made 12 appearances during his loan spell before returning to Twente in July 2025 after the club exercised their option to extend his contract through to 2026.[12]
HJK Helsinki (trial)
On 20 January 2026, Finnish club HJK Helsinki announced that El Maach had joined the team on a trial basis. He featured for the club on the same day in a 2026 Liigacup match against IFK Mariehamn.[13]
International career
El Maach is a youth international for Morocco, having represented the nation at under-17 and under-23 levels. He also made one appearance for the Netherlands U18 in a friendly match in 2017.