Bilal Nadir: Who is Hamburg's new Moroccan midfielder?
Hamburg have signed free agent Bilal Nadir following his departure from Marseille. Here's everything you need to know about the Morocco U23 international...
Stats correct as of 24 July 2026
Bilal Nadir
Age: 22 (born 28 November 2003)
Club: Hamburg
Position: Central midfielder
Country: Morocco
Key stats
A product of Nice's academy, Nadir made his senior debut for the club in 2020. From there, he moved to Ligue 1 rivals Marseille, where he'd initially feature for the club's reserves, before breaking into the first team in 2023.
A few months after making his professional debut, a cruciate ligament injury cruelly sidelined him for nine months. He bounced back last season, however, making 28 appearances overall, of which he started seven.
Nadir also brings UEFA Champions League experience to Hamburg, having played four times in the competition last term - including a late cameo against Liverpool.
Plays a bit like: Tom Bischof
With excellent ball control and an eye for a pass, Nadir's game is similar to that of Bayern Munich youngster Bischof. They both possess excellent vision and are comfortable driving forward with the ball at their feet from deep positions.
However, if there is one area where Nadir can take some inspiration from Bischof, it is perhaps goalscoring from midfield, as the Moroccan has scored only once in 39 Ligue 1 outings.
Did you know?
Having grown up in Nice, Nadir represented France at U16 and U19 level. However, in 2023 he switched his international allegiance to Morocco, turning out for their U23 team later that year. His debut for the side was one to remember, as he scored the only goal of the game in a narrow win against the United States.
What they're saying
"Bilal brings high footballing and technical quality. He's a player who always wants to have the ball and is intelligent in his movement between the lines. It means he's capable of changing the rhythm of a game and linking parts of the team." - Claus Costa, HSV sporting director
“I love everything about Nadir. I love his attitude, his personality. He’s not afraid of the ball. He’s eager to improve. He’s like [Adrien] Rabiot, he likes to drift into the box. He’s doing some very interesting things." - Roberto De Zerbi, former Marseille manager
