Ismaël Bennacer: OM's Latest Signing Brings Winning Pedigree

Bennacer put in a standout performance during his 65 minutes on the pitch, touching the ball 117 times and achieving an impressive 99% pass accuracy. He also registered three key passes, delivered four accurate crosses, completed four long balls with precision, and created a big chance for OM.

The early years at Arlésien and Arsenal

This match against Angers marked a homecoming for Bennacer, who started his youth career in France before moving abroad. The 27-year-old was in Athlétic Club Arlésien's youth system from 2004 to 2015 as he moved to Arsenal to continue his growth.

Bennacer made his senior debut for Arsenal in the League Cup fourth round against Sheffield Wednesday in October 2015. Although he joined the Gunners, the midfielder struggled to secure regular first-team minutes.

During an interview with The Athletic in 2020, the former Arsenal player stated that his departure was about establishing himself

“I had three years left on my deal but I wanted to play and besides, they weren’t against my sale, so I left.”

In January 2017, he was loaned to Tours, then in Ligue 2, for the rest of the 2016–17 season. During his time there, Bennacer scored his first goal for the club in April 2017, netting a free kick against Sochaux.

Finding success in Italy

After struggling to secure a permanent spot at Arsenal following his return from France's second division, the OM standout moved to Italy, hoping to break into first-team football.

Bennacer signed with Italian club Empoli in August 2017. During the 2017–18 Serie B season, he played 39 matches and scored two goals, helping Empoli win the Serie B title and earn promotion to Serie A.

Although Empoli was relegated the following season, Bennacer's standout performances solidified his reputation as one of Europe's most promising young midfielders, leading to a major move to one of Italy's top clubs.

In August 2019, Bennacer joined AC Milan, where his career flourished and won trophies. Before moving to Marseille, he made 178 total appearances for I Rossoneri while winning the 2021-22 Serie A title and the 2024-25 Supercoppa Italiana.

The move to Marseille

After seven years with AC Milan, Bennacer joined OM this month and one reason for joining the Ligue 1 McDonald's club was due to the project and fulfilling a childhood dream as he stated at his press conference.

"I was a fan of Olympique Marseille when I was a kid, so this project really interests me. I had already been in contact with Medhi Benatia over the summer, but the move didn’t happen at the last moment. Playing for Olympique Marseille was always something I had in mind."

"There are some great midfielders in the team, and the coach shared his vision and philosophy with me. We didn’t go into too much detail, but he’s a coach I’ve always admired. I wanted to play under him at some point in my career, and now it’s happening—it’s a fantastic feeling."

Marseille have also added a player with international success, winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 and earning the tournament's Best Player award. Bennacer will bring a winning pedigree for a team looking to secure automatic qualification for the UEFA Champions League next season.

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