Ligue 1 French football club RC Lens has reached a deal with British club Burnley FC for the USD 7.6 million transfer of 24-year-old Moroccan winger Anass Zaroury, according to French sports media Foot Mercato.
The promising young player is already in France to undergo a medical examination ahead of the move.
RC Lens is currently going through an active transfer window and is looking to bolster its offensive lineup following the departure of Elye Wahi.
The club, which is managed by Will Still, has been exploring several options, including the recent acquisition of Charles N’Zola from Fiorentina, Foot Mercato reports.
According to the French media, RC Lens has agreed to a transfer fee of approximately USD 5.4 million with an additional USD 2.2 million in performance-related bonuses.
Burnley will also retain a 20% sell-on clause in the deal. Zaroury is to sign a contract with Lens that will keep him at the club until 2028.
Zaroury spent part of last season on loan at Hull City, where he struggled to find his form, making just 12 appearances and scoring two goals.
Despite the underwhelming performance, his potential was clear during his time at Burnley under manager Vincent Kompany, where he broke out with a 12-goal, six-assist season in the Championship.
Zaroury gained international attention during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Initially, he was in the crosshairs of the Belgian national team, but Morocco swooped in to call him up after Moroccan player Amine Harit was ruled out due to injury.
Zaroury made a strong impression, although he has yet to secure a permanent spot in Morocco’s national team, with just four caps to his name, his last appearance being in June 2023.