Ayoub Lajhar: from Derna to FC Cincinnati
Born in Libya and developed in the United States, the defender joined the FC Cincinnati first team in 2026. A look at a journey shaped by the memory of his father.
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Born in Derna, Libya, Ayoub Lajhar built his career in the United States after a spell in Tunisia. The 22-year-old defender worked his way into the FC Cincinnati first team in 2026.
His father, a former Darnes player who died when he was a baby, remains a reference point. In an interview with WCPO published in September, Lajhar said he had wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. After moving to Vermont in 2017, he went through Vermont Academy and then the University of Connecticut, where he became a left-back after playing further up the pitch. Cincinnati picked him with the 55th pick of the 2026 MLS draft.
A debut with two assists
On 25 February 2026, he came on in the 69th minute against O&M in the Concacaf Champions Cup. He provided two assists, for Alvas Powell and then Stefan Chirila, in a 9–0 win. In an interview with the club website after that debut, he spoke of his joy at playing in front of his family and how much his father's memory means to him.
After his MLS debut on 25 April, Cincinnati signed him to a first-team contract for the 2026 season on 9 May, with club options for 2027 and 2027-2028.