Born on June 26, 1993, in Casablanca, Morocco, to Moroccan parents (both from Casablanca), Ayoub El Kaabi grew up in a football-loving family. His father, a former amateur footballer, inspired his early interest in the sport. El Kaabi spent his childhood playing football in the streets of Casablanca, honing his skills as a forward.

At the age of ten, El Kaabi joined the Racing de Casablanca youth academy, where he began his formal football education. His talent as a striker quickly became evident, and he progressed through the ranks of the academy. His prolific goal-scoring ability earned him a move to RS Berkane in 2017.

El Kaabi’s impressive performances with RS Berkane in the Moroccan Botola Pro and the CAF Confederation Cup caught the attention of international scouts. He played a crucial role in Morocco’s CHAN 2018 victory, where he was the tournament’s top scorer. El Kaabi’s success continued as he moved to Chinese club Hebei China Fortune and later to Wydad AC, establishing himself as one of the top strikers in Moroccan football.