Walid Cheddira

Walid Cheddira
Cheddira with Morocco in 2023
Personal information
Full name Walid Cheddira[1]
Date of birth (1998-01-22) 22 January 1998
Place of birth Loreto, Italy
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
 Napoli
Number 15
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Loreto 49 (9)
2017–2019 Sangiustese 72 (20)
2019–2021 Parma 0 (0)
2019–2020 → Arezzo (loan) 13 (0)
2020 → Lecco (loan) 2 (0)
2020–2021 → Mantova (loan) 38 (9)
2021–2023 Bari 65 (23)
2023– Napoli 1 (0)
2023–2024 → Frosinone (loan) 36 (7)
2024–2025 → Espanyol (loan) 22 (1)
2025–2026 → Sassuolo (loan) 16 (1)
2026 → Lecce (loan) 17 (3)
International career
2022–2023 Morocco 6 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 25 May 2026

Walid Cheddira (Arabic: وليد شديرة; born 22 January 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club Napoli. Born in Italy, he played for the Morocco national team.

Early life

Cheddira was born in Loreto, Marche, Italy to parents originally from Béni Mellal, Morocco.[2][3] His father, Aziz, was also a footballer, having played for some time in the Moroccan minor leagues.[2][3]

Club career

Early career

Cheddira began playing football in his hometown team, Loreto, playing in the amateur Eccellenza league.[4][5] On 15 July 2017, he was purchased by Sangiustese, making his debut with the club in the Coppa Italia Serie D match won 3–0 against Castelfidardo, in which he scored his first goal for Sangiustese.

Parma

On 10 July 2019, Cheddira signed a three-year contract with Serie A club Parma,[6] who loaned him to Arezzo in Serie C on 22 July.[7] He made his professional Serie C debut on 25 August, as a starter in a game against Lecco.[8] After half a season, Parma sent Cheddira on loan to Lecco on 31 January 2020,[9] and to Mantova on 4 September.[10]

Bari

On 18 July 2021, Cheddira joined Bari on loan,[11] who made the deal permanent on 30 June 2022, signing a contract until June 2025.[12]

Napoli

On 20 August 2023, Cheddira was signed by Napoli and loaned to Frosinone for the 2023–24 season.[13] On 27 August 2024, Cheddira moved on a new loan to Espanyol in Spain.[14] On 1 September 2025, he was loaned to Sassuolo with an option to buy.[15] On 22 January 2026, Cheddira moved on a new loan to Lecce, also with an option to buy.[16]

International career

Cheddira was born in Italy and is Moroccan by descent.[17] He was called up to play for the Morocco national team for two friendlies against Chile and Paraguay on 23 and 27 September 2022, respectively;[18] he made his debut against Chile as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 win.[19]

On 10 November 2022, Cheddira was named in Morocco's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[20][21] He made his World Cup debut as an 82nd-minute substitute in the round of 16 against Spain, a penalty shoot-out victory for Morocco following a 0–0 draw after extra time.[22] In the quarter-finals against Portugal, Cheddira came on in the 65th minute, and was sent off after two yellow cards in stoppage time; Morocco won 1–0.[23][24]

Style of play

Cheddira is a varied forward, capable of playing both as a central striker and as a winger on either flank.[3] Physically strong, he has also shown that he has notable athletic skills, especially useful in pressing and making runs.[2][25][26] He also complements his team's offensive actions,[25][26] also as an assist-man,[25] and is quite incisive in front of goal, being able to finish with either direct shots or headers.[2][25]

Personal life

During his time at Bari, Cheddira was nicknamed "Ualino" or "Walino", a diminutive of the name Pasquale in the Barese dialect.[27]

Career statistics

As of match played 17 May 2026[28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sangiustese 2017–18 Serie D 3410002[b]13611
2018–19 Serie D 3810002[c]04010
Total 722000417621
Arezzo (loan) 2019–20 Serie C 130201[d]0160
Lecco (loan) 2019–20 Serie C 20000020
Mantova (loan) 2020–21 Serie C 389001[e]0399
Bari 2021–22 Serie C 346003[f]0376
2022–23 Serie B 3117354[g]03822
Total 652335707528
Napoli 2023–24 Serie A 00000000
2024–25 Serie A 10100020
Total 10100020
Frosinone (loan) 2023–24 Serie A 3673100398
Espanyol (loan) 2024–25 La Liga 2211000231
Sassuolo (loan) 2025–26 Serie A 1611000171
Lecce (loan) 2025–26 Serie A 1630000163
Career total 2806511613130571
  1. ↑ Includes Coppa Italia, Copa del Rey
  2. ↑ Appearances in Coppa Italia Serie D
  3. ↑ One appearance in Coppa Italia Serie D, one appearance in Serie D promotion play-offs
  4. ↑ Appearance in Coppa Italia Serie C
  5. ↑ Appearance in Serie C promotion play-offs
  6. ↑ One appearance in Coppa Italia Serie C, two appearances in Supercoppa di Serie C
  7. ↑ Appearances in Serie B promotion play-offs

Honours

Bari

Individual

Orders

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Morocco (MAR)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 19. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gianluca Scaduto (12 September 2022). "Cheddira, da Bari al sogno Mondiale". Tuttosport (in Italian). Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Matteo Albanese (22 September 2022). "Walid Cheddira, le origini: «Con tanto lavoro e umiltà è diventato grande»". Cronache di spogliatoio (in Italian). Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  4. ↑ Roberto Carulli. "Il Circolo dei Mondiali 2022 - Inchieste: Walid Cheddira". RaiPlay (in Italian). RAI. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  5. ↑ Walid Cheddira at TuttoCalciatori.net (in Italian)
  6. ↑ "Luca Zamparo and Walid Cheddira Join Parma, Emmanuele Matino Signs for Cavese on-loan" (Press release). Parma. 10 July 2019. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  7. ↑ "Cheddira e Madonna vestono l'amaranto" (Press release) (in Italian). Arezzo. 22 July 2019. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  8. ↑ "Arezzo v Lecco game report". Soccerway. 25 August 2019.
  9. ↑ "Comunicato Ufficiale: Walid Cheddira nuovo giocatore della Calcio Lecco 1912" (Press release) (in Italian). Lecco. 31 January 2020. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  10. ↑ "i Arricchisce L'Attacco Biancorosso: Walid Cheddira È Un Nuovo del Mantova" (Press release) (in Italian). Mantova. 4 September 2020. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "Benvenuto Walid Cheddira !" (in Italian). Bari. 18 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "Bentornato Walid 'Walo' Cheddira !" (in Italian). Bari. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  13. ↑ "Napoli Sign Cheddira and Loan Him to Forsinone". Napoli. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  14. ↑ "Cheddira, nuevo jugador blanquiazul" [Cheddira, new blue and white player] (in Spanish). RCD Espanyol. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  15. ↑ "Walid Cheddira, benvenuto in neroverde!" [Walid Cheddira, welcome to the black and green!] (in Italian). US Sassuolo Calcio. 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  16. ↑ "Cheddira in giallorosso" (in Italian). US Lecce. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  17. ↑ Trentini, Narciso (29 May 2022). "Walid Chedira, il giovane calciatore marocchino che ha sfondato a Bari, in Italia". Gossip Italiano (in Italian). Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  18. ↑ Franceschi, Giovanni De (13 September 2022). "Cheddira convocato dalla Nazionale sogna il Mondiale in Qatar "Un onore, una gioia immensa"". Cronache Maceratesi (in Italian). Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  19. ↑ "المنتخب الوطني يفوز وديا على تشيلي بهدفين نظيفين في أول اختبار لوليد الركراكي". Cawalisse | كواليس اليوم (in Arabic). 23 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  20. ↑ "Morocco World Cup 2022 squad: Who's in and who's out?". Goal. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  21. ↑ "Moroccan coach unveils list of 26 Atlas Lions in 2022 World Cup". HESPRESS English. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  22. ↑ "Morocco vs Spain, Live Score, Lineups, Head to Head, Match Timeline, Stats, Result, Venue, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022". Indiatimes.com. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  23. ↑ Gleeson, Mark (10 December 2022). "Morocco write World Cup history as they reach semi-finals". Reuters. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  24. ↑ "Morocco vs Portugal". OneFootball. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  25. 1 2 3 4 Marco D'Ottavi (11 October 2022). "Walid Cheddira è la più grande sorpresa della B". L'Ultimo Uomo (in Italian). Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  26. 1 2 Francesco Paolo Giordano (13 October 2022). "Walid Cheddira, esagerato". Rivista Undici (in Italian). Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  27. ↑ Federica Massari (18 August 2023). "Il soprannome di Walid Cheddira che piace ai tifosi del Napoli". webnapoli24.com (in Italian). Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  28. ↑ W. Cheddira at Soccerway
  29. ↑ "Serie C - Group C". Soccer 24. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  30. ↑ "Le Marocain Walid Cheddira élu joueur du mois en Serie B".
  31. ↑ "Les dix types de wissams royaux accordés par Mohammed VI". Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
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