Omar Rekik (Arabic: عمر رقيق; born 20 December 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam,[1] on loan from Arsenal.[2] Born in the Netherlands, he represents the Tunisia national team. His brother, Karim, is also a professional footballer.
Personal information | |||
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Date of birth | (2001-12-20) 20 December 2001 (age 20) | ||
Place of birth | Scheveningen, Netherlands | ||
Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
Club information | |||
Current team |
Sparta Rotterdam (on loan from Arsenal) | ||
Youth career | |||
0000–2012 | Feyenoord | ||
2012–2014 | Manchester City | ||
2014–2015 | PSV | ||
2015–2017 | Marseille | ||
2017–2021 | Hertha BSC | ||
2021– | Arsenal | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2020–2021 | Hertha BSC II | 8 | (1) |
2021– | Arsenal | 0 | (0) |
2022– | → Sparta Rotterdam (loan) | 0 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2018 | Tunisia U21 | 1 | (0) |
2018–2019 | Netherlands U18 | 3 | (1) |
2021– | Tunisia | 3 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 June 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 29 April 2022 |
Born in Helmond, Netherlands,[3] from a Tunisian father and a Dutch mother,[4][5] 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][6] However their career eventually split during the 2020–21 season, as Omar was transferred from the Bundesliga side to Arsenal in January 2021.[7][6][8] Karim, who had already been playing professional football for the last ten years, had joined the Spanish side of Sevilla a few months earlier.[5][6]
On 20 June 2022, Omar joined Sparta Rotterdam in the Netherlands on a season-long loan.[9]
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,[3] before joining the Netherlands under-18 a month later.[10]
But Omar 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.[4][11] He made his international senior debut for Tunisia on the 15 June 2021, starting as a midfielder in the 1-0 friendly win against Mali.[12][13]
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Sparta Rotterdam – current squad | |
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Tunisia squad – 2021 Africa Cup of Nations | ||
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