Omar Rekik (Arabic: عمر رقيق; born 20 December 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back. He is currently a free agent after mutually terminating his contract with Premier League club Arsenal.[1] Born in the Netherlands, he plays for the Tunisia national team. His brother, Karim, is also a professional footballer.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 December 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Scheveningen, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2012 | Feyenoord | ||
| 2012–2014 | Manchester City | ||
| 2014–2015 | PSV | ||
| 2015–2017 | Marseille | ||
| 2017–2021 | Hertha BSC | ||
| 2021–2024 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2021 | Hertha BSC II | 8 | (1) |
| 2021–2024 | Arsenal | 0 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | → Sparta Rotterdam (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2022 | → Jong Sparta (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2023 | → Wigan Athletic (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Wigan Athletic (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Servette (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018 | Tunisia U21 | 1 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Netherlands U18 | 3 | (1) |
| 2021– | Tunisia | 3 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:11, 22 January 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 29 April 2022 | |||
Early life
editBorn in Helmond, Netherlands,[2] from a Tunisian father and a Dutch mother,[3][4] Rekik was part of several big European clubs during his youth career, following his brother Karim from Feyenoord, to Manchester City, then PSV and Marseille, before joining Hertha Berlin in 2017.[2][5] However their career eventually split during the 2020–21 season, as Omar was transferred from the Bundesliga side to Arsenal in January 2021.[6][5][7] Karim, who had already been playing professional football for the last ten years, had joined the Spanish side of Sevilla a few months earlier.[4][5]
Club career
editOn 31 January 2023, Rekik joined Wigan Athletic in the EFL Championship on loan until the end of the season.[8]
On 1 September 2023, Omar Rekik re-joined Wigan Athletic in EFL League One on a short-term loan deal until January 2024.[9]
On 2 February 2024, Rekik moved on a new loan to Servette in Switzerland, with an option to buy.[10]
International career
editWhile Karim was already a 4 time capped Dutch international, Omar Rekik was first selected in the Tunisia under-21 selection in October 2018, while aged only 16,[2] before joining the Netherlands under-18 a month later.[11]
Rekik eventually decided to join the Tunisian national team in May 2021, as he was selected by Mondher Kebaier along with other young players such as Hannibal Mejbri.[3][12] He made his international senior debut for Tunisia on 15 June 2021, starting as a midfielder in the 1-0 friendly win against Mali.[13][14]
Career statistics
edit| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hertha BSC II | 2020–21 | Regionalliga Nordost | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | ||||
| Arsenal | 2020–21 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Arsenal U23 | 2021–22 | — | — | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| Sparta Rotterdam (loan) | 2022–23 | Eredivisie | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Wigan Athletic (loan) | 2022–23 | Championship | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||||
| Wigan Athletic (loan) | 2023–24 | League One | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[a] | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| Servette | 2023–24 | Swiss Super League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career total | 35 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 42 | 1 | ||
- ^ a b Appearances in EFL Trophy
References
edit- ^ Omar Rekik at Soccerway
- ^ a b c "Omar Rekik: talento tunisino classe 2001". World Football Scouting (in Italian). 18 October 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ a b Jerbi, Rania (27 May 2021). "Equipe nationale –Tunisie : Omar Rekik officiellement " Aigle de Carthage "". Africa Foot United (in French). Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ a b Jerbi, Rania (31 May 2021). "Tunisie : Karim Rekik sur les traces de son frère Omar ?". Africa Foot United (in French). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ a b c Rault, Mathieu (19 November 2020). "Arsenal veut l'ancien Marseillais Omar Rekik". Foot Mercato (in French). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ "Omar Rekik signs professional contract". arsenal.com. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ "Arsenal sign Omar Rekik". BeSoccer. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ "SPARTA HUURT OMAR REKIK VAN ARSENAL" (in Dutch). Sparta Rotterdam. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ "OMAR REKIK JOINS WIGAN ATHLETIC ON LOAN". arsenal.com. Arsenal. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "OMAR REKIK REJOINT LES GRENAT" [OMAR REKIK JOINS THE GARNETS] (in French). Servette. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ Elfrink, Rik (15 November 2018). "KNVB maakt werk van Omar Rekik, die bij Oranje onder 18 in de basis staat". Eindhovens Dagblad.
- ^ "Cérémonie de présentation des deux néo-internationaux, Hannibal Mejbri et Omar Rekik". Mosaïque FM (in French). 30 May 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "Amical : Formation rentrante de la Tunisie face au Mali". kawarji.com. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ "Amical, Tunisie –Mali : La victoire et c'est tout pour les Aigles de Carthage | Africa Foot United". africafootunited.com (in French). 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
External links
edit- Omar Rekik at Soccerway
- Omar Rekik KNVB profile