Omar Rekik Explained

Omar Rekik
Birth Date:20 December 2001
Birth Place:Scheveningen, Netherlands
Height:1.88m
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Arsenal
Clubnumber:60
Youthyears1:–2012
Youthclubs1:Feyenoord
Youthyears2:2012–2014
Youthclubs2:Manchester City
Youthyears3:2014–2015
Youthclubs3:PSV
Youthyears4:2015–2017
Youthclubs4:Marseille
Youthyears5:2017–2021
Youthclubs5:Hertha BSC
Youthyears6:2021–
Youthclubs6:Arsenal
Years1:2020–2021
Clubs1:Hertha BSC II
Caps1:8
Goals1:1
Years2:2021–
Clubs2:Arsenal
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2022–2023
Clubs3:Sparta Rotterdam (loan)
Caps3:6
Goals3:0
Years4:2022
Clubs4:Jong Sparta (loan)
Caps4:1
Goals4:0
Years5:2023
Clubs5:Wigan Athletic (loan)
Caps5:11
Goals5:0
Years6:2023–2024
Clubs6:Wigan Athletic (loan)
Caps6:10
Goals6:0
Years7:2024
Clubs7:Servette (loan)
Caps7:0
Goals7:0
Nationalyears1:2018
Nationalteam1:Tunisia U21
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2018–2019
Nationalteam2:Netherlands U18
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2021–
Nationalteam3:Tunisia
Nationalcaps3:3
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:12:11, 22 January 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:29 April 2022

Omar Rekik (Arabic: عمر رقيق ; born 20 December 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Swiss club Servette on loan from the Premier League club Arsenal. Born in the Netherlands, he plays for the Tunisia national team. His brother, Karim, is also a professional footballer.

Early life

Born in Helmond, Netherlands, from a Tunisian father and a Dutch mother,[1] [2] 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.[3] [4] However their career eventually split during the 2020–21 season, as Omar was transferred from the Bundesliga side to Arsenal in January 2021.[5] [6] Karim, who had already been playing professional football for the last ten years, had joined the Spanish side of Sevilla a few months earlier.

Club career

On 31 January 2023, Rekik joined Wigan Athletic in the EFL Championship on loan until the end of the season.[7]

On 1 September 2023, Omar Rekik re-joined Wigan Athletic in EFL League One on a short-term loan deal until January 2024.[8]

On 2 February 2024, Rekik moved on a new loan to Servette in Switzerland, with an option to buy.[9]

International career

While 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, before joining the Netherlands under-18 a month later.[10]

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.[11] He made his international senior debut for Tunisia on 15 June 2021, starting as a midfielder in the 1-0 friendly win against Mali.[12] [13]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsApps!GoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hertha BSC II2020–21Regionalliga Nordost8181
Arsenal2020–21Premier League0000000000
2021–22Premier League0000000000
2022–23Premier League0000000000
Total0000000000
Arsenal U232021–222020
Sparta Rotterdam (loan)2022–23Eredivisie60001070
Wigan Athletic (loan)2022–23Championship110110
Wigan Athletic (loan)2023–24League One100200020140
Servette2023–24Swiss Super League0000000000
Career total35120000050421

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jerbi. Rania. 27 May 2021. Equipe nationale –Tunisie : Omar Rekik officiellement " Aigle de Carthage ". 16 June 2021. Africa Foot United. fr-FR.
  2. Web site: Jerbi. Rania. 31 May 2021. Tunisie : Karim Rekik sur les traces de son frère Omar ?. 15 June 2021. Africa Foot United. fr-FR.
  3. Web site: 18 October 2018. Omar Rekik: talento tunisino classe 2001. 15 June 2021. World Football Scouting. it-IT.
  4. Web site: Rault. Mathieu. 19 November 2020. Arsenal veut l'ancien Marseillais Omar Rekik. 15 June 2021. Foot Mercato. fr.
  5. Web site: Omar Rekik signs professional contract. 15 June 2021. arsenal.com. en.
  6. Web site: 7 January 2021. Arsenal sign Omar Rekik. 15 June 2021. BeSoccer. en.
  7. Web site: Sparta Rotterdam. SPARTA HUURT OMAR REKIK VAN ARSENAL. 20 June 2022. 20 July 2022. nl.
  8. Web site: Arsenal. OMAR REKIK JOINS WIGAN ATHLETIC ON LOAN. 1 September 2023. 2 September 2023. arsenal.com. en.
  9. Web site: Servette. OMAR REKIK REJOINT LES GRENAT. OMAR REKIK JOINS THE GARNETS. 2 February 2024. 3 February 2024. fr.
  10. Elfrink. Rik. 15 November 2018. KNVB maakt werk van Omar Rekik, die bij Oranje onder 18 in de basis staat. Eindhovens Dagblad.
  11. Web site: 30 May 2021. Cérémonie de présentation des deux néo-internationaux, Hannibal Mejbri et Omar Rekik. 16 June 2021. Mosaïque FM. fr.
  12. Web site: 15 June 2021. Amical : Formation rentrante de la Tunisie face au Mali. 15 June 2021. kawarji.com.
  13. Web site: 15 June 2021. Amical, Tunisie –Mali : La victoire et c'est tout pour les Aigles de Carthage Africa Foot United. 15 June 2021. africafootunited.com. fr-FR.