Zaïd Bafdili

Zaïd Bafdili (born 25 October 2007) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Jong Genk.

Zaïd Bafdili

Personal information
Date of birth	(2007-10-25) 25 October 2007 (age 17)
Place of birth	Brussels, Belgium
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Jong Genk
Number	66
Youth career
0000–2020	RSC Anderlecht
2020–2022	KV Mechelen
2022–	KRC Genk
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2024–	Jong Genk	19	(0)
International career‡
2022	Belgium U15	5	(0)
2022–2023	Belgium U16	12	(3)
2023–2024	Belgium U17	7	(1)
2024–	Belgium U18	5	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 28 January 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18 November 2024

Early life

Bafdili was born on 25 October 2007 in Brussels, Belgium. Of Moroccan descent through his parents, he is the cousin of Belgian footballer Bilal Bafdili and the brother of Belgian footballer Dalil Bafdili.^[1]

Club career

As a youth player, Bafdili joined the youth academy of RSC Anderlecht. In 2020, he joined the youth academy of KV Mechelen. Two years later, he joined the youth academy of KRC Genk and was promoted to the club's reserve team in 2024. On 10 November 2023, he debuted for them during a 1–3 away loss to SL16 in the league.^[2]

Style of play

Bafdili plays as a midfielder and is right-footed. German news website Transfermarkt wrote in 2025 that he "possesses wonderful game intelligence...is composed under pressure, has an accomplished passing range and smart decision-making" and he has received comparisons to Italy international Marco Verratti.^[3]