Ilyas Chouaref

Ilyas Chouaref (born 12 December 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Swiss Super League club Sion. Born in France, he represents the Malta national team.

Ilyas Chouaref

Personal information
Date of birth	(2000-12-12) 12 December 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Châteauroux, France
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position	Winger
Team information
Current team	Sion
Number	7
Youth career
2006–2018	Châteauroux
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2022	Châteauroux II	28	(9)
2018–2022	Châteauroux	73	(4)
2022–	Sion	112	(14)
International career‡
2019	France U19	1	(0)
2025–	Malta	6	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18:00, 4 October 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 12 October 2025 (UTC)

Club career

Chouaref is a youth product of LB Châteauroux. He made his debut with them in a 2–1 Ligue 2 loss to Le Havre AC on 4 December 2018.^[1] On 1 October 2019, he signed a professional contract with the club.^[2]

On 12 June 2022, Chouaref transferred to Sion in Switzerland.^[3]

International career

Born in France, Chouaref is of Moroccan and Maltese descent. He was a youth international for France.^[4] On 18 February 2025, Bjorn Vassallo, president of the Malta FA confirmed that Chouaref had obtained Maltese citizenship.^[5]

On 21 March 2025, Chouaref made his debut for Malta against Finland in a World Cup qualifying match, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–1 loss.^[6]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 4 October 2025^[7]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup[a]		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
LB Châteauroux	2018–19	Ligue 2	11	1	1	0	–		–		12	1
	2019–20	Ligue 2	22	2	1	0	–		–		23	2
	2020–21	Ligue 2	34	1	1	0	–		–		35	1
	2021–22	National	6	0	0	0	–		–		6	0
	Total		73	4	3	0	—		—		76	4
FC Sion	2022–23	Super League	32	1	4	1	–		2[b]	0	38	2
	2023–24	Challenge League	35	6	4	1	–		–		39	7
	2024–25	Super League	37	6	3	0	–		–		40	6
	2025–26	Super League	8	1	2	0	–		–		10	1
	Total		112	14	13	2	—		2	0	127	16
Total			184	18	15	2	—		2	0	201	20

International

As of match played 12 October 2025

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Malta	2025	5	0
Total		6	0

Personal life

His elder half-brother Hamza Sakhi is also a footballer.^[8][9]

Notes

1. includes Coupe de France and Swiss Cup
2. appearances in Swiss Super League Relegation play-off