Taha Mejni Joins Crystal Palace Academy from Ittihad Touarga
Taha Mejni’s journey from Rabat to south London has moved fast. It now has a Premier League crest stamped on it.
Crystal Palace have completed the signing of the highly rated Moroccan defender from Ittihad Touarga, adding one of North Africa’s brightest young prospects to their academy ranks. Still only 18, Mejni will link up with Darren Powell’s Under-21 side, with a clear pathway laid out towards senior football.
From Touarga to the world stage
Mejni emerged from the youth system at Ittihad Touarga and broke into the first team in June 2025, making his senior debut in an Excellence Cup semi-final win over Wydad Fez. That step up came early, and he never looked back.
Palace describe him as “a versatile player capable of playing at centre-back or right-back,” and the numbers back up the club’s conviction. He has already featured in 17 matches for Touarga’s senior side, 15 of them last season, including 13 starts in the Moroccan top flight. For a teenager learning the trade in a physically demanding league, that is serious exposure.
His rise hasn’t been confined to club football. Mejni was part of Morocco’s historic Under-20 World Cup triumph in Chile last year, helping his country lift the trophy for the first time. Aged just 17, he played his part in a remarkable run that saw Morocco beat Brazil, Spain, France and Argentina on their way to the title. Those are the sort of nights that harden a defender and sharpen a mentality.
Since that tournament, he has stepped up again, joining Morocco’s Under-23 set-up and winning two caps in March, including a start in a 2-2 draw with Ivory Coast. The progression has been steady, relentless, and now leads to south London.
Palace’s plan for a “multi-talented defender”
Crystal Palace’s academy has built a reputation as one of the most productive in England, and the club see Mejni as the latest to fit their model. In their announcement, they highlighted not just his versatility, but the way he plays.
Mejni “describes himself as a defender with technical qualities who also enjoys the physical side of the game,” the club noted, a blend that fits neatly with the Premier League’s demands. He will compete in Premier League 2, the Premier League International Cup and the EFL Trophy, three competitions designed to expose him to a range of styles and intensities.
Palace academy director Gary Issott underlined why the club moved for him now. “Taha enjoyed an excellent 25-26 season and gained valuable experience in the Moroccan first division, and he helped Morocco win the Under-20 World Cup at just 17 years old,” he said. For Issott and his staff, this is a defender arriving with real matches, real pressure and real success already on his CV.
Issott was clear about the club’s belief in the signing: “He is a multi-talented defender who impressed us with his performances, and we believe Crystal Palace is the right environment for him to continue his development. Welcome, Taha!”
For Mejni, the attraction of Palace was obvious. After signing, he spoke with the excitement of a teenager who understands the scale of the move but isn’t intimidated by it.
“Crystal Palace is one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and around the world. They have achieved a great deal in recent years, so I am very excited to begin this new adventure with the club,” he said. There was no talk of easing in. Just a desire to get started.
A heartfelt farewell
Before turning the page, Mejni made sure the previous chapter closed properly. On Instagram, he posted an emotional goodbye to Ittihad Touarga, the club that shaped him.
“After 5 wonderful years, the time has come for me to begin a new and important chapter in my life,” he wrote, paying tribute to the institution that trusted him as a boy and launched him as a professional.
“I thank the club for its trust in me, for the opportunities it gave me, and for all the memories that helped me grow, both on and off the pitch. I also extend my thanks to my coaches for their advice, their patience and their trust, which helped me grow as a player and as a person.”
He didn’t forget the dressing room either. “Many thanks to my team-mates and friends. We shared unforgettable moments, and some of you became like brothers to me.”
The message ended with the kind of line that shows how deeply those five years cut into him: “I leave feeling a great deal of gratitude, pride and beautiful memories. Thank you to everyone who believed in me and to those who continue to keep the club's spirit alive every day. Thank you for everything, Ittihad Tanger. I will always be proud to have worn these colours. A new page opens, but the story continues. Forever grateful.”
The names may blur in translation between Ittihad Touarga and Ittihad Tanger, but the sentiment is unmistakable: a young defender leaving home with respect, not haste.
Now comes the hard part. New country, new league, new expectations. Palace believe they have found a defender who can live with all of that and grow beyond it. The next few seasons will show whether Taha Mejni is just another promising academy recruit, or the next breakout from a club that has made a habit of turning potential into Premier League reality.
