Omar Marmoush was born on the 7th of February in Cairo, Egypt, just before the turn of a new millennium.
The young Marmoush commenced his footballing career with the youth team of Wadi Degla, an Egyptian Club with ties to some top European Clubs like Arsenal. He had a steady rise through the ranks at Wadi Degla, eventually making his professional debut for the first team in the Egyptian Premier League on 8 July 2016 at the age of 17.
His standout talent and high ambitions meant he couldn’t be held up in Egypt for long. The young winger’s ambitions ushered a move to Europe, and he signed up for German Club VFL Wolfsburg.
His development was steady as he honed his skills and progressed gradually through the German team’s now-dissolved academy team. He won a league title with the youth side during the 2018/2019 season. He made his Bundesliga debut for Wolfsburg’s senior team on May 26, 2020.
Omar Marmoush spent the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 season on loan at FC St Pauli and VFB Stuttgart. While on the books of Stuttgart, he was named Bundesliga rookie of the month twice in September 2021 and March 2022.
Pleased with his development, Wolfsburg recalled him at the end of his loan spell with Stuttgart and he was included in the team’s squad for the 2022/2023 season. He managed to nail a spot in the team but he opted against renewing his contract with the side at the end of the season.
Upon the expiration of his contract with Wolfsburg in 2023, he signed up for Eintracht Frankfurt on a free transfer and picked up the number 7 shirt.
It was when he was on Frankfurt’s books that the Egyptian winger really burst onto the scene, established himself, and became globally famous. In his debut season with Frankfurt, Marmoush netted 16 goals across 37 appearances, helping them secure qualification to the 2024–25 Europa League. His magnificent performances in his debut season earned him attention from top English clubs like Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC. However, his best was yet to come!
He started the 2024/2025 season in unstoppable form across all competitions, bagging the Bundesliga Player of the Month award for September and November 2024. He alternated between the Bundesliga’s top goalscorer and second-top scorer position with Harry Kane while topping the assists chart, recording a total of 15 goals and 9 assists across 17 league appearances. He was on track to be named the Bundesliga Player of the Season at the end of the season.
The 25-year-old winger’s breathtaking performances earned him several admirers, with numerous top European clubs poised to battle for his signature at the end of the season. However, there was a surprising twist as English Champions Manchester City swooped in to secure his signature in the January transfer window.
He put pen to paper over a four-and-a-half-year deal for a reported fee of €75 million, picking up the number 7 shirt again. His departure is a significant blow to Frankfurt, but they’ll take their consolation in the huge transfer fee they received for a player they signed on a free transfer.
The exciting Egyptian star has already put the rest of the league on high alert with a solid debut performance in City’s 3-1 win over Chelsea over the weekend. Omar Marmoush started the game and was unlucky to have a goal disallowed in the first half before subsequently being withdrawn in the 74th minute to an ovation from the City faithful.
Eligible to represent Egypt and Canada on the international stage, Marmoush opted for his birth country. He has been a regular presence with the Egyptian side from his youth before making his debut with the senior side on the 8th of October 2021, netting the only goal in a 1-0 win over Libya. He represented The Pharaohs at the 2021 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing as tournament runner-up to Senegal in 2021.
Marmoush is primarily right-footed and has an understandable preference for starring on the left wing. Nonetheless, he is capable of playing anywhere across the front line. Citing Brazilian legend Ronaldinho as his footballing idol, his mannerisms of play mirror the Brazilian legend to an extent. He is fleet-footed, and he skillfully evades opposition players with ease. Owing to his playing style, he is a prominent target, and he excels at winning fouls from opposition players on the pitch.
He has a relentless drive and insatiable hunger that makes him a nightmarish presence for opposition defenders. He is deadly in front of goal and he excels at creating goal scoring opportunities for his teammates.
A hardworking player, he is blessed with pace and an impressive all-round technical ability.
He excels at burying set pieces, famously netting three consecutive free-kick goals in November 2024 while on the books of Frankfurt.
His mental strength is formidable, and he lives for the biggest occasion. He’ll be a valuable addition to a Manchester City side lacking motivation and resilience over the past couple of weeks. His transfer to Manchester City comes as a devastating blow to Liverpool fans who had already fantasized on reuniting Marmoush with Salah at the club level. Fans can only imagine how devastating he would have been in Liverpool’s attack.
Omar Marmoush has a very high ceiling.
The Egyptian winger is yet to actualise his total potential, and at his age, he is about to enter the prime of his career. Manchester City is undoubtedly an enormous challenge for the winger. Notwithstanding, as he has shown throughout his career, he is capable of rising to the challenge and dominating in the English league. Will he come for the King’s crown and outperform the Egyptian King Mo Salah, or will he stumble in the face of the overwhelming challenge? Will he craft an iconic legacy in the English league? Time will tell!
