Ibrahim Rabbaj
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ibrahim Rabbaj[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 3 January 2009 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Leicester, England | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Chelsea | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 81 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| Crystal Palace | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021– | Chelsea | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2026– | Chelsea | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Morocco U15 | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | England U15 | 1 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | England U16 | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Morocco U17 | 8 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19 April 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 30 March 2026 | |||||||||||||||||
Ibrahim Rabbaj (Arabic: إبراهيم الرباج; born 3 January 2009) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea. Born in England, he represents Morocco at youth level. He is widely regarded as one of the most talented of his generation[2], and is most notably compared to a younger Lionel Messi.[3]
He has represented both Morocco and England at underage level.
Club career
Rabbaj started playing football at Crystal Palace until the age of 11. In 2021 Chelsea Academy signed him. With his technical profile, Rabbaj was compared to former Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi.[4][5][6]
On 20 January 2026, Rabbaj signed his first professional contract with Chelsea.[7]
International career
Born in England, Rabbaj is of Moroccan descent. He played for England U15 and U16 teams and for Morocco U15 and U17 teams.[8][9] In March 2025, he was named in Morocco's squad for the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.[10] Morocco won the tournament.[11]
Honours
Chelsea U18
- U18 Premier League – National Champions: 2025–26
- U18 Premier League – Southern Champions: 2025–26
Morocco U17
Individual
- UNAF U-17 Tournament Player of the Tournament: 2026
References
- ^ "2025/26 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. September 12, 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
- ^ https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/news/chelsea-told-they-have-a-top-talent-after-teenagers-international-motm-display/
- ^ https://yen.com.gh/sports/football/304701-real-madrid-barcelona-enter-race-chelseas-moroccan-messi/
- ^ "Who is Chelsea youngster Rabbaj?". BBC Sport. March 5, 2025.
- ^ "CAN U17 : Qui est Ibrahim Rabbaj, le "Lionel Messi" marocain ?". L'Opinion Maroc (in French). April 3, 2025.
- ^ "Ibrahim Rabbaj, la pépite marocaine de Chelsea qui affole l'Angleterre". Mountakhab.net (in French). March 5, 2025.
- ^ "Ibrahim Rabbaj signs first professional contract". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
- ^ "Ibrahim Rabbaj Internationals". Worldfootball.
- ^ "Chelsea : Ibrahim Rabbaj, la pépite qui a tourné le dos à l'Angleterre pour le Maroc". Footmercato (in French). February 28, 2025.
- ^ "Morocco U17 Squad". CAF Online.
- ^ "Morocco Crowned U-17 AFCON Champions After Penalty Shootout Win Over Mali". BeinSports. April 19, 2025.
- ^ "Morocco Crowned U-17 AFCON Champions After Penalty Shootout Win Over Mali". beIN SPORTS. April 19, 2025. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
External links
- Ibrahim Rabbaj at Soccerway.com