Taha Mejni Signs with Crystal Palace: North Africa’s Young Defensive Talent
Crystal Palace have moved for one of North Africa’s most intriguing young defenders, sealing the signing of Moroccan prospect Taha Mejni from Ittihad Touarga.
The 18-year-old – already hardened by first-team football in Morocco and crowned a world champion at youth level – will link up with Darren Powell’s Under-21 squad, with the club viewing him as a long-term defensive investment.
From Touarga to south London
Mejni rose through the academy at Ittihad Touarga and broke into the senior side in June 2025, making his debut in an Excellence Cup semi-final win over Wydad Fez. That was the first glimpse of a defender Touarga quickly learned to trust.
Crystal Palace describe him as “a versatile player capable of playing at centre-back or right-back,” a modern defender comfortable in multiple roles across the back line. He has already featured in 17 matches for Touarga’s first team, 15 of them last season, with 13 starts in Morocco’s top flight.
Those numbers matter. At an age when many peers are still in youth football, Mejni has already dealt with the physical and tactical demands of a senior league.
Palace’s plan is clear: he will step into Powell’s Under-21 group and compete in Premier League 2, the Premier League International Cup, and the EFL Trophy – three competitions that will test his adaptability and resilience against contrasting styles.
A world title before adulthood
If his club rise has been swift, his international path has been even more eye-catching.
Still only 17, Mejni played his part in Morocco’s historic Under-20 World Cup triumph in Chile last year – the country’s first title at that level. The route to glory was brutal: Brazil, Spain, France and Argentina all beaten on the way. Morocco did not tiptoe to that trophy; they ripped it away from the traditional powers.
Mejni’s role in that run earned him a step up. He has since joined Morocco’s Under-23 squad, playing two internationals in March, including a start in a 2-2 draw with Ivory Coast. It is a rapid climb through the age groups, and a clear indicator of how his national setup rate him.
Palace’s own assessment matches that view. The club say Mejni “describes himself as a defender with technical qualities who also enjoys the physical side of the game,” a blend that fits neatly with the Premier League’s demands.
Palace’s pitch – and belief
Inside the club, there is obvious excitement.
Academy director Gary Issott underlined the thinking behind the move, highlighting Mejni’s breakout campaign in Morocco and his role in that Under-20 World Cup win. Issott pointed to “an excellent 25-26 season” in the Moroccan first division and spoke of a “multi-talented defender” whose performances convinced Palace that south London is the right place for his next step.
The message from the academy is simple: this is a player they expect to grow quickly in their environment.
Mejni, for his part, made it clear why he chose Palace. After signing, he called Crystal Palace “one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and around the world,” praising what the club has achieved in recent years and describing his move as the start of “a new adventure.”
For a teenager crossing continents, the word “adventure” feels apt. But the tone is not wide-eyed. It is ambitious.
A heartfelt farewell
Before turning the page, Mejni closed the last chapter with emotion.
On Instagram, he said an extended goodbye to Ittihad Touarga, the club that shaped him over the past five years. He thanked the institution for its trust, the chances it gave him, and the memories that helped him grow “both on and off the pitch.”
He reserved special praise for his coaches, acknowledging their advice, patience and belief, and then turned to the dressing room, calling his team-mates “friends” and saying some had become “like brothers.”
The message was soaked in gratitude and pride. Mejni wrote that he leaves with “beautiful memories” and thanked “everyone who believed in me and those who continue to keep the club’s spirit alive every day.”
He closed with a line that underlines how deeply those colours have marked him: he will “always be proud” to have worn them, that “a new page opens, but the story continues,” and that he remains “forever grateful.”
Now the story moves to south London. The question is not whether Taha Mejni has the talent. It is how quickly Crystal Palace can turn potential, and a world title at youth level, into a defender ready for the Premier League’s unforgiving stage.
