Achraf Hakimi transfer: why PSG feels like home

Achraf Hakimi transfer talk has resurfaced after the Morocco star gave an uncompromising assessment of his departure from Real Madrid and his happiness at Paris Saint-Germain. Speaking in the aftermath of Madrid’s Club World Cup humiliation, the right-back insisted it was never his decision to quit the Spanish giants in 2020 and revealed why life in Paris “is simply more fun.”

Achraf Hakimi transfer from Real Madrid to PSG

Hakimi graduated from Los Blancos’ academy with sky-high expectations, yet found first-team opportunities limited behind Dani Carvajal. After a sparkling two-year loan at Borussia Dortmund, many assumed he would return to claim the Santiago Bernabéu right flank. Instead, Madrid agreed a €40 million deal with Inter. Twelve months later, Paris Saint-Germain swooped, completing the Achraf Hakimi transfer that still baffles many Madridistas.

Was the sale really Hakimi’s choice?

In his latest interview, Hakimi was unequivocal: “Leaving was not my decision. The club needed money, and I needed minutes. Selling academy players is the easiest solution.” The words cut deep for supporters who watched academy alumni such as Marcos Llorente and Mateo Kovačić depart before him. The defender stressed that loyalty had never wavered, but clarity about his role was lacking. “I asked for a plan; they had none,” he said.

Life at PSG: freedom, flair and fun

Hakimi describes Paris as “a playground,” crediting coach Luis Enrique for unleashing his attacking instincts. At Real, the emphasis was on positional discipline; at PSG the Moroccan is encouraged to overlap relentlessly, switching flanks with Nuno Mendes and even drifting into midfield. The result is a player redefining the modern full-back role, averaging more touches in the opposition box than some strikers.

Statistical leap since the Achraf Hakimi transfer

• 2020-21 with Inter: 45 games, 7 goals, 11 assists
• 2021-22 with PSG: 41 games, 4 goals, 6 assists
• 2022-23 with PSG: 39 games, 5 goals, 9 assists
Expected-Goals models highlight a 30 percent uptick in shot-creating actions since arriving in France. Hakimi credits this to “fun,” explaining that enjoying training sessions leads to risk-taking on match day.

Real Madrid’s perspective on the exit

Club insiders maintain the sale was dictated by economics; Covid-19 revenues evaporated and Hakimi was one of the few assets who could fetch a significant fee without weakening the starting XI—at least in theory. Technical director José Ángel Sánchez later admitted the move might have been “premature,” a rare concession from Madrid’s hierarchy. Carlo Ancelotti, who returned to the Bernabéu in 2021, often name-checks Hakimi when discussing players that got away.

How the transfer shaped each club

For Madrid, the immediate impact was muted thanks to Carvajal’s reliability, yet injuries and burnout have since exposed depth issues. PSG, conversely, gained not only a marauding defender but also a marketing diamond. Shirt sales in North Africa soared, and the Parc des Princes quickly turned Hakimi’s name into a terrace anthem.

International influence and leadership

Morocco’s historic run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals amplified the Achraf Hakimi transfer narrative. Wearing the PSG badge, he executed that iconic Panenka penalty against Spain, celebrating with Kylian Mbappé’s trademark pose. The synergy between club and country has elevated his global profile and, by extension, PSG’s reach into emerging markets.

What next for the flying full-back?

Rumours persist that Premier League clubs are monitoring Hakimi, yet the defender’s contract runs until 2026, and he indicates no desire to move. “Paris feels like family,” he reiterated. The club’s ambition to finally conquer the Champions League aligns with his own targets. Off the pitch, he is working on community projects in Morocco, something he says PSG encourages through its foundation.

Financial dominoes triggered by the Achraf Hakimi transfer

The initial €40 million Madrid received helped fund deals for Eduardo Camavinga and, indirectly, Jude Bellingham. Inter’s sale to PSG balanced their books, enabling moves for Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Denzel Dumfries. Thus, one right-back’s journey reshaped three European squads, illustrating how a single transaction ripples across the continent.

Fans’ verdicts

Madrid supporter groups remain divided—some lament the loss of an academy jewel, others argue that Carvajal’s leadership justified the gamble. PSG fans, meanwhile, chant Hakimi’s name alongside Mbappé’s, viewing him as emblematic of a new, pace-driven identity. Neutral observers praise the Moroccan’s resilience; few players reinvent themselves so smoothly across LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 before turning 25.

Personal growth since leaving the Bernabéu

In Paris, Hakimi has learned French, expanded his tactical vocabulary under Mauricio Pochettino, Christophe Galtier and now Enrique, and forged a lethal on-field chemistry with Mbappé. “We speak the same football language,” he smiles. That synergy manifests in quick one-twos and diagonal bursts that break high defensive lines—moves rarely sanctioned during his Madrid days.

Legacy in the making

If PSG conquer Europe, the Achraf Hakimi transfer will be hailed as visionary. Should Madrid persist with defensive injuries, questions will intensify about talent management at Valdebebas. Either way, the Moroccan’s candid words add spice to future Champions League clashes between the two giants.

Opinion: Madrid’s loss, Paris’s gain

Achraf Hakimi has every right to feel aggrieved; Real Madrid undervalued both his potential and the modern full-back’s importance. PSG handed him freedom and responsibility, and in return gained one of world football’s most dynamic weapons. The tale is a reminder that talent flourishes where vision exists—and perhaps a warning to Madrid not to let the next jewel slip away.