Wahbi Khazri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Wahbi Khazri

Khazri lining up with Tunisia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name	Wahbi Khazri
Date of birth	(1991-02-08) 8 February 1991 (age 34)
Place of birth	Ajaccio, France
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder, left winger, forward
Youth career
1995–2003	JS Ajaccio
2003–2009	Bastia
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2014	Bastia	171	(31)
2014–2016	Bordeaux	52	(14)
2016–2018	Sunderland	38	(3)
2017–2018	→ Rennes (loan)	24	(9)
2018–2022	Saint-Étienne	100	(33)
2022–2025	Montpellier	82	(6)
International career
2009	Tunisia U20	1	(1)
2012	France U21	1	(0)
2013–2022	Tunisia	74	(25)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 May 2025

Wahbi Khazri (Arabic: وَهْبِيّ خَزْرِيّ; born on February 8, 1991) is a professional footballer. He plays as an attacking midfielder, left winger, or forward.

Wahbi started his football journey at Bastia in 2004. He made his first professional appearance in 2009. He quickly became a key player for the team. He helped Bastia get promoted to Ligue 2 in 2011 and then to Ligue 1 in 2012. In 2014, he moved to another French club, Bordeaux.

In 2016, Wahbi joined Sunderland in the Premier League. Later, in the 2017–18 season, he played for Rennes on loan. He scored 11 goals in 29 games that season. This caught the eye of Saint-Étienne, who signed him in July 2018. In 2022, Wahbi Khazri joined Montpellier.

Wahbi was born in France and played for France's youth teams. But he chose to play for Tunisia at the senior level. He was even the captain of the Tunisian national team. He played 74 matches and scored 25 goals for Tunisia between 2013 and 2022. He played in five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He also represented Tunisia in the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup tournaments.

Wahbi Khazri's Club Career

Playing for Bastia

Wahbi Khazri was born in Ajaccio, France. He began his football career with a local team called Jeunesse Sportive Ajaccio. Later, he moved to Bastia. He was first called up to Bastia's main team on February 20, 2009. He made his debut in that match, coming on as a substitute. Bastia won the game 1–0.

He scored his first goal on March 13, 2009, helping Bastia win 1–0 against Montpellier. Wahbi quickly showed he could score goals. He scored again a few weeks later in a 3–1 win. He also scored in the final game of the season, helping Bastia win 2–1.

Playing for Bordeaux

On July 1, 2014, Wahbi signed a four-year contract with Bordeaux. He played his first game for Bordeaux on August 9, 2014. Bordeaux won that match 1–0. He scored his first goal for Bordeaux in his second game, on August 17, against Monaco. He scored from a penalty kick, helping his team win 4–1.

On September 28, 2014, he scored Bordeaux's 3,400th goal in their history. His first season at Bordeaux was very successful. He became a regular starter and scored nine goals in 32 league games.

He scored his first goal of the 2015–16 season on August 9, 2015. On September 11, he scored a goal against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). He managed to take the ball from the opposing goalkeeper, Kevin Trapp. The match ended in a 2–2 draw.

Playing for Sunderland

Khazri (right) playing for Sunderland against Chelsea in May 2016

On January 30, 2016, Khazri joined Sunderland. He signed a contract for four and a half years. He scored his first goal for Sunderland against Manchester United on February 13, 2016. He scored with a free kick that went past the goalkeeper, David de Gea. Khazri also helped set up another goal in Sunderland's 2–1 win.

On May 7, 2016, Khazri scored a great volley goal in a 3–2 win over Chelsea. This win helped Sunderland stay in the Premier League. A newspaper called the Sunderland Echo praised his hard work and how he caused problems for the Chelsea defense.

On August 31, 2017, Khazri went back to Ligue 1, joining Rennes on a loan for the season. He was sent off in a game on October 14. He received two yellow cards for arguing with the referee. His nine goals helped Rennes finish 5th and qualify for the Europa League.

Playing for Saint-Étienne

Khazri with Saint-Étienne in 2020

On July 17, 2018, Khazri moved to Saint-Étienne. He signed a four-year contract and chose to wear the number 10 jersey. He played his first game for Saint-Étienne on August 11, scoring his first goal for the club. He scored with a volley after a cross, helping his team win 2–1. On September 28, he scored two goals against Monaco, which was his first "double" for Saint-Étienne.

On January 12, 2019, Wahbi Khazri scored the only goal in a match against Guingamp. He scored from a direct free kick, surprising the goalkeeper. This goal brought his total to ten goals for the season, which was a new record for him in a single league season. He finished the 2018–19 season with thirteen goals, making him the top scorer for his team.

Khazri had a tough start to the 2019–20 season. He scored his first goal of the season on October 27, but it wasn't enough for a win. He then got injured in November and was out for several weeks. Due to the club's financial situation, he was almost sold during the 2020–21 season. However, he stayed and was brought back into the team. He scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game) on April 11, 2021, in a 4–1 win against Bordeaux. This game also marked his 200th match in Ligue 1.

During the 2021–22 season, on October 30, he scored his seventh goal of the season against Metz. He scored with a shot from 68 meters away, which was the furthest goal in Ligue 1 since 2006. After the coach, Claude Puel, left, Wahbi was given the captain's armband. He continued as captain under the new coach, Pascal Dupraz.

Playing for Montpellier

On June 27, 2022, Khazri signed with Montpellier, another Ligue 1 team. He chose the number 99 jersey, being the first player to wear it for Montpellier. On August 13, 2022, he scored his first goal for the club. It was in a 5–2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

Wahbi Khazri's International Career

Khazri playing with Tunisia against Mali at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations

Khazri celebrates his goal against France at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

In 2009, Khazri played his first game for the Tunisia national under-20 football team. In November 2011, he was called up to play for the France national under-21 football team. He played one game for France against Italy in February 2012.

In late 2012, Khazri decided to play for the Tunisian national team. He was called up by the coach, Sami Trabelsi, for the 2013 African Cup of Nations.

Henryk Kasperczak picked Khazri to be part of the Tunisian team for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. In a group game against Zimbabwe, he helped set up a goal and scored a penalty. Tunisia won 4–2, which helped them move forward in the tournament.

Coach Nabil Maâloul selected Khazri for Tunisia's team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. In a group match against Belgium, he assisted a goal and scored one himself. Tunisia lost 5–2. In their final group game, Tunisia won 2–1 against Panama. This was Tunisia's first World Cup win since 1978. Khazri set up one goal and then scored the winning goal, which was the 2,500th goal in World Cup history!

Khazri was the captain of the Tunisian team that finished fourth at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. In a group game, he scored to make it a 1–1 draw with Mali. On October 7, 2021, he scored his 22nd goal for Tunisia. This made him the second-highest scorer for the national team. On January 16, 2022, Khazri scored two goals against Mauritania in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Tunisia won that match 4–0.

In November 2022, Khazri was chosen for Tunisia's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. On November 30, he scored the winning goal in a 1–0 victory over France. Even though they won, Tunisia was eliminated from the tournament. The day after this match, Wahbi Khazri announced he was retiring from international football.

International Appearances and Goals

Wahbi Khazri's Achievements

Bastia

• Ligue 2: 2011–12 (Champions)
• Championnat National: 2010–11 (Champions)

Saint-Étienne

• Coupe de France runner-up: 2019–20 (Finished second)

Individual Awards

• UNFP Ligue 2 Team of the Year: 2011–12 (Chosen as one of the best players in the league)
• UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: November 2018 (Best player for that month)
• Tunisian Footballer of the Year: 2018 (Best Tunisian footballer)

See also

In Spanish: Wahbi Khazri para niños

• Football in Tunisia
• Football in France