Taha Mejni Joins Crystal Palace After Youth World Cup Triumph

Crystal Palace have moved again in the youth market, landing highly rated Moroccan defender Taha Mejni from Ittihad Touarga after his breakout season in the Botola Pro.

The 18-year-old – who can play at centre-back or right-back – comes in off the back of a rapid rise in Morocco, a world title at youth level and a farewell message that underlined just how much his first club meant to him.

From Touarga prodigy to Palace prospect

Mejni came through the academy at Ittihad Touarga and made his senior debut in June 2025, stepping into the first team for an Excellence Cup semi-final win over Wydad Fez. That taste of knockout football proved a launchpad.

By the end of last season he had 17 senior appearances for the Moroccan club, 15 of them in the 2025-26 campaign and 13 as a starter. Palace’s announcement underlined why they moved: a “versatile player capable of playing at centre-back or right-back” who already looks comfortable in a top-flight environment.

His rise has mirrored Morocco’s own surge at youth level.

World champion at 17

At just 17, Mejni helped write a new chapter in Moroccan football history. He was part of the Morocco squad that stormed to a first-ever Under-20 World Cup title in Chile last year, a run that went through some of the giants of the game.

Brazil, Spain, France, Argentina – Morocco beat them all on the way to lifting the trophy. Mejni’s role in that campaign has clearly not gone unnoticed in England.

He has since stepped up to Morocco’s Under-23s, playing two internationals in March. One of those was a start in a 2-2 draw with Ivory Coast, another sign that his development is being fast-tracked at national-team level.

Palace’s plan for Mejni

Crystal Palace confirmed that Mejni will initially join Darren Powell’s Under-21 squad, where he will compete in Premier League 2, the Premier League International Cup and the EFL Trophy. The pathway is clear: prove himself in a demanding development environment and push towards the first team.

The club statement highlighted how Mejni views his own game, describing himself as a defender with “technical qualities” who also relishes the physical battle. It is exactly the blend Premier League clubs now demand from modern defenders.

Speaking after signing, Mejni did not hide his excitement.

“Crystal Palace is one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and around the world,” he said. “They have achieved a great deal in recent years, so I am very excited to begin this new adventure with the club.”

Inside the academy, there is similar belief that Palace is the right next step.

Academy director Gary Issott praised the defender’s trajectory: “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.”

Issott’s verdict on the signing was emphatic: “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!”

An emotional goodbye

The move comes with a clean break from Ittihad Touarga, and Mejni made sure his farewell carried the weight of five formative years.

On Instagram, he posted a long message to the club that developed him: “After 5 wonderful years, the time has come for me to begin a new and important chapter in my life,” he wrote.

He went on to thank the club for its trust and the chances it gave him, saying those opportunities and memories had helped him grow “both on and off the pitch”. Coaches were singled out for their “advice, their patience and their trust”, which he said shaped him as both player and person.

Then came a nod to the dressing room that helped launch his career.

“Many thanks to my team-mates and friends. We shared unforgettable moments, and some of you became like brothers to me.”

The message was laced with gratitude to the end: “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.”

He signed off with a final salute to the badge he leaves behind: “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.”

A world champion at youth level, a regular in Morocco’s top flight and now a Premier League project – Mejni’s story is accelerating. The next question is simple: how quickly can he turn promise into a place in the Palace first team?