Rayan Buifrahi

Rayan Buifrahi Khbiez (born 13 March 2005) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for club MVV.

Early years
Buifrahi was born in Brussels, Belgium. Born to Moroccan parents from Tétouan in northern Morocco, he grew up in Wemmel, on the outskirts of Brussels before later moving to Merchtem. His bond with football ignited early in life: "I always had a ball at my feet, even in nursery," he recalled. This ardor was inherited from his father, an avid fan of the sport, whom he frequently joined along with his grandfather to watch matches.

His journey into organised football commenced when his gym teacher noticed his talent in first grade and recommended Buifrahi's parents enroll him at the local club SC Wolvertem. During an impressive performance against a youth team from Anderlecht, scouts from the prestigious club approached him. Initially cautious due to their son's young age, Buifrahi's parents were eventually persuaded and allowed him to join Anderlecht's esteemed youth setup. He remained with Anderlecht until the age of 12, then caught the eye of another esteemed youth academy, Club Brugge. He remained there until his under-16 years when the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic led him to make a move to Oostende.

Buifrahi showcased exceptional talent during the 2022–23 season with his youth team, scoring 25 goals and providing 17 assists. Despite his efforts, he faced challenges making a breakthrough into the struggling first team at that time, which eventually faced relegation from the Belgian Pro League. Buifrahi attributed his inability to debut professionally for Oostende to the complexities of integrating young players into a struggling senior squad. Additionally, he cited internal unrest within the team as a contributing factor that led to his departure following the season.

MVV
On 2 June 2023, Buifrahi signed with Dutch second-tier Eerste Divisie club MVV, despite receiving offers from "Belgian top clubs", according to MVV's technical director Ronny Van Geneugden. He signed a two-year contract with an option for an additional year.

Buifrahi made his professional debut on the first matchday of the season, starting in a 3–1 win over VVV-Venlo. On 6 October, he recorded his first assist, setting up Mart Remans' 1–1 equaliser in an eventual 3–2 away victory against Jong PSV. He scored his professional goal on 2 November, breaking the deadlock in the 18th minute during MVV's first-round match in the KNVB Cup against Cambuur. Unfortunately, despite his goal, MVV suffered a 4–1 defeat, resulting in their elimination from the tournament.

International career
Buifrahi holds one cap with the Belgium national under-15 team. While expressing an interest in representing Morocco at the international level in the future, he expressed that he did not rule out the possibility of playing for Belgium as well.

Style of play
Buifrahi has showcased his attacking skills primarily as a winger or attacking midfielder. Despite labeling himself as a slow maturer, a factor that affected his tenure at Club Brugge, he displayed adeptness in scoring goals and providing assists during his youth career. His style has been influenced by prominent figures in football like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Eden Hazard, serving as major inspirations in shaping his gameplay.