AS Monaco has secured the futures of four young players who came through the club’s La Diagonale academy, confirming professional contracts through June 2029 for Safouane Benzahra, Najd Ajroud, Nahël Haddani and Melvin Gomes Da Veiga.
All four players, part of the 2008 generation, spent last season with Monaco’s U19 side under coach Frédéric Barilaro, helping the team reach the semi-finals of the French U19 Championship.
Benzahra, a Moroccan attacking midfielder born in Breda, joined Monaco from NAC Breda in summer 2025 and quickly made his mark, scoring eight goals in 16 U19 appearances during his first season with the club. His progress earned him a place in pre-season with the first team, where he went on to make his competitive debut in the Conference League play-off against Górnik Zabrze, followed by his first appearance at Stade Louis-II in the second leg. He later made his Ligue 1 debut in Monaco’s win away to Paris Saint-Germain, and has since received his first call-up to Morocco’s U20 squad alongside teammate Ilies Belmokhtar.
Ajroud, a left-footed attacking midfielder born in Grasse, joined Monaco at just 12 years old and moved up to the academy’s U17 squad in 2023. A standout performer last season, the France U19 international recorded 10 goals and 10 assists in 33 appearances, including contributions in Monaco’s UEFA Youth League wins over Bodø/Glimt and Paphos, before featuring in the win over Galatasaray. This summer, he trained with the first team under Filipe Luís, and has since continued developing with the club’s Elite Group, scoring in a recent derby win over Nice and earning his first call-up to the France U19 squad during the current international break.
Haddani, a Moroccan forward born in Mende, joined Monaco in summer 2025 from Entente Saint-Clément Montferrier, where he had scored 22 goals in his final season in the French U17 National Championship. He carried that form into his first year at Monaco, netting 14 goals in 22 U19 appearances, and further announced himself on the international stage at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, helping Morocco reach the quarter-finals with three goals and an assist. He now continues his development with the club’s Elite Group.
Gomes Da Veiga, a versatile right-back or centre-back born in Marseille, joined Monaco in 2023 from SC Air Bel and has racked up close to 50 appearances across the U17 and U19 sides. Last season, he featured in Monaco’s UEFA Youth League campaign and earned his first call-up to the France U18 squad, scoring on his debut against England before featuring in three matches at the U19 European Championship Elite Round. He also now continues his progression within the club’s Elite Group.