Genk enter the market again after Yira Sor

Genk have announced another signing this window after acquiring Yira Sor. This time they shopped closer to home, signing Anouar El Hadj from rivals Anderlecht.

The 20-year-old Belgian-Moroccan attacking-midfielder made his senior debut for Anderlecht in 2019 and has been making waves in the Pro League since.

Genk announced today through their channels that they have completed the signing of El-Hadj from Anderlecht. They did not disclose the fee, but TransferMarkt reports €2 million.

Genk's director of football, Dimitri de Conde, was speaking about the transfer, and how is a signing for the present and future, alongside the signing of Nigeria's Yira Sor.

“After Yira Sor, the arrival of El Hadj is another important reinforcement that we can add to the current core,” Conde said via the club’s website.

"Anouar is a choice both in the short and medium term. In the first conversation, it immediately became clear that he believed in the project of KRC Genk and that he radiates a lot of enthusiasm to contribute to our successes this season and the coming seasons.

“We look forward to seeing him shine in our blue and white.”

Genk's manager, Wouter Vrancken, also weighed in on the transfer.

“Anouar fits perfectly into the philosophy of KRC Genk and personifies the attractive football that we want to bring here,” Vrancken revealed.

“I look forward to adding him to the group.”

El-Hadj is a creative and explosive forward with lots of dynamism and consequently versatility.

Anouar is capable of playing in many offensive positions and has played almost an equal number of games at left-wing and right-wing. He has also started almost as many games as a centre-midfielder as he has as an offensive midfielder, all in double figures.

The Belgian U-21 international got his first goal in the top flight against Genk, and he has been an involved member of Anderlecht's squads, since making his debut in the 2019/20 season.