Gibraltarian footballer (born 2000)
Ayoub El Hmidi (Arabic: أيوب الحميدي; born 30 September 2000) is a Gibraltarian footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 side AS Gabès and the Gibraltar national team.
Club career
El Hmidi began his career with Lions Gibraltar, as a youth product. He made 2 appearances during his debut season before signing for Glacis United in 2017. Chances were limited at Glacis and he didn't play a league game, so in 2018 he joined Mons Calpe, where he quickly begame a regular in the team, playing 56 games and scoring 17 goals across 4 seasons with the Calpeans.
In 2022 El Hmidi signed for Europa for their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign, and after the Greens' exit from the competition he joined St Joseph's.[1] However, after one season he signed for CD Torrijos in Spain on 13 July 2023. However, paperwork issues delayed his debut for the club.[2] After terminating his contract in December due to these registration issues, he relocated to Morocco in January 2024, joining KAC Marrakech on a 2+1⁄2-year contract and becoming the first Gibraltarian footballer to play in Africa.[3] However, after only a month at the club where he only played in friendlies, he terminated his contract and returned to Gibraltar, joining FCB Magpies. At the end of the season, he moved once again, joining newly promoted Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 side AS Gabès.
International career
El Hmidi was previously the record caps holder for Gibraltar U21 with 18 caps, broken by Dylan Borge in November 2023. He made his senior debut on 16 June 2023, in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match against France, which finished as a 0–3 loss.[4]
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