# Walid Cheddira

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

## Club career

Cheddira spent the first four seasons of his senior career in the lower, non-professional tiers of Italian football.
On 10 July 2019, Cheddira signed a three-year contract with Serie A club Parma, who loaned him to Arezzo in Serie C on 22 July. He made his professional Serie C debut on 25 August, as a starter in a game against Lecco. After half a season, Parma sent Cheddira on loan to Lecco on 31 January 2020, and to Mantova on 4 September.
On 18 July 2021, Cheddira joined Bari on loan, who made the deal permanent on 30 June 2022, signing a contract until June 2025.
On 20 August 2023, Cheddira was signed by Napoli and loaned to Frosinone for the 2023–24 season.
On 27 August 2024, Cheddira moved on a new loan to Espanyol in Spain.

## International career

Cheddira was born in Italy and is Moroccan by descent. 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; he made his debut against Chile as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 win.
On 10 November 2022, Cheddira was named in Morocco's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He made his competition 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. In the quarter-finals against Portugal, Cheddira came on in the 65th minute, and was sent off for two yellow cards in stoppage time. Morocco won 1–0.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 18 August 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Coppa Italia | Coppa Italia | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Sangiustese | 2017–18 | Serie D | 34 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 11 |
| Sangiustese | 2018–19 | Serie D | 38 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 10 |
| Sangiustese | Total | Total | 72 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 76 | 21 |
| Arezzo (loan) | 2019–20 | Serie C | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Lecco (loan) | 2019–20 | Serie C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Mantova (loan) | 2020–21 | Serie C | 38 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 9 |
| Bari | 2021–22 | Serie C | 34 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 37 | 6 |
| Bari | 2022–23 | Serie B | 31 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 38 | 22 |
| Bari | Total | Total | 65 | 23 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 75 | 28 |
| Napoli | 2023–24 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Napoli | 2024–25 | Serie A | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Napoli | Total | Total | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Frosinone (loan) | 2023–24 | Serie A | 36 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 8 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 227 | 59 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 249 | 66 |
* ↑ Appearances in Coppa Italia Serie D
* ↑ One appearance in Coppa Italia Serie D, one appearance in Serie D promotion play-offs
* ↑ Appearance in Serie C promotion play-offs
* ↑ One appearance in Coppa Italia Serie C, two appearances in Supercoppa di Serie C
* ↑ Appearances in Serie B promotion play-offs

## Honours

Bari
* Serie C: 2021–22
Individual
* Serie B Player of the Month: September 2022
* Coppa Italia Top scorer: 2022–23
Orders
* Order of the Throne: 2022