Omar Rekik

Omar Rekik (Arabic: عمر رقيق; born 20 December 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Slovenian PrvaLiga club Maribor.^[2] Born in the Netherlands, he represented the Tunisia national team internationally.

Omar Rekik

Personal information
Date of birth	(2001-12-20) 20 December 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	Helmond, Netherlands
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Maribor
Number	44
Youth career
0000–2012	Feyenoord
2012–2014	Manchester City
2014–2015	PSV
2015–2017	Marseille
2017–2021	Hertha BSC
2021–2022	Arsenal
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2021	Hertha BSC II	8	(1)
2021–2024	Arsenal	0	(0)
2022–2023	→ Sparta Rotterdam (loan)	6	(0)
2022	→ Jong Sparta (loan)	1	(0)
2023	→ Wigan Athletic (loan)	11	(0)
2023–2024	→ Wigan Athletic (loan)	10	(0)
2024	→ Servette (loan)	0	(0)
2025–	Maribor	19	(1)
International career
2018	Tunisia U21	1	(0)
2018–2019	Netherlands U18	3	(1)
2021–2022	Tunisia	3	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 3 August 2025

Early life

Born in Helmond, Netherlands^[3] to 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 careers eventually split during the 2020–21 season, as Omar was transferred from the Bundesliga side to Arsenal in January 2021,^[7][6][8] while Karim joined Spanish side Sevilla a few months earlier.^[5][6]

Club career

On 31 January 2023, Rekik joined Wigan Athletic in the EFL Championship on loan until the end of the season.^[9] On 1 September 2023, he re-joined Wigan Athletic in EFL League One on a short-term loan deal until January 2024.^[10]

On 2 February 2024, Rekik moved on a new loan to Servette in Switzerland, with an option to buy.^[11]

International career

While his brother Karim was already capped for the senior Netherlands national team, Omar was first selected in the Tunisia under-21 selection in October 2018, aged just 16,^[3] before joining the Netherlands under-18 a month later.^[12]

Rekik eventually decided to join the Tunisia national team in May 2021, as he was selected by Mondher Kebaier along with other young players such as Hannibal Mejbri.^[4][13] He made his international senior debut on 15 June 2021, starting as a midfielder in a 1–0 friendly win against Mali.^[14][15]

Career statistics

As of 22 January 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Hertha BSC II	2020–21	Regionalliga Nordost	8	1	—		—		—		—		8	1
Arsenal	2020–21	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
	2021–22	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2022–23	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
Arsenal U23	2021–22	—			—		—		—		2[a]	0	2	0
Sparta Rotterdam (loan)	2022–23	Eredivisie	6	0	0	0	—		—		—		6	0
Wigan Athletic (loan)	2022–23	Championship	11	0	—		—		—		—		11	0
Wigan Athletic (loan)	2023–24	League One	10	0	2	0	0	0	—		2[a]	0	14	0
Servette	2023–24	Swiss Super League	0	0	0	0	—		—		—		0	0
Career total			35	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	41	1

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy