Anwar El Ghazi signs for Cardiff as he looks to move on after sacking over Gaza posts

Dutch forward thanks Welsh club for 'accepting me for who I am without question'

Anwar El Ghazi has joined Championship club Cardiff City. Getty

Anwar El Ghazi thanked new club Cardiff City for signing him "after the darkness of the last few months" in which he had his contract terminated by his previous club over a series of social media posts referencing the conflict in Gaza.

El Ghazi, 29, had a medical at the Welsh club on Wednesday before completing the formalities of his move, signing on until next June.

He was a free agent having had his contract terminated by Bundesliga club Mainz last autumn.

The former Everton and Aston Villa player won a wrongful dismissal case against the German club at the Labour Court of Mainz earlier this month.

"So, surely with hardship comes ease … after the darkness of the last few months, I look forward to this new chapter at Cardiff City," El Ghazi, twice capped by the Netherlands, said in an Instagram post.

"I am grateful to the club and manager for giving me this opportunity and accepting me for who I am without question and the amazing players and fans for welcoming me so warmly. I will forever remember your faith and love.

"Whatever the outcome, I will give my all for you on the pitch and do my best to deliver success and happiness. May the coming months bring prosperity and peace for all, including those in Gaza."

On July 12, the Labour Court ordered the Bundesliga club to hand over more than £1 million in unpaid wages and bonuses to El Ghazi.

It was thought the former Ajax and Lille winger had another year left on his deal at Mainz, with a clause activated after the club avoided relegation to remain in the Bundesliga.

It is understood that El Ghazi is yet to be paid by Mainz and is seeking damages against his former employer.

Due to his dispute with Mainz, El Ghazi played only four games last season and has not had a competitive outing since October 6, 2023.

El Ghazi joined Villa on loan in 2018 before the deal was made permanent, scoring 20 goals in 102 league appearances for the Midlands club.

He was loaned to Everton in January 2022, making only two appearances before returning to the Netherlands to join PSV Eindhoven and then switching to Mainz last September, signing a two-year contract.

Cardiff play in the second tier of the English football league. The Bluebirds finished 12th in the 24-team league in 2023/24.

Cardiff manager Erol Bulut said: “Anwar knows what football is in the Championship and the Premier League, so he can help us a lot.

"In offensive roles he can play the part, in his creativity, finishing and assists. I think we are getting one player that the fans in the stadium will like, with his skills and moves on the field.

“He will need a little bit of time to get ready, as he was away from football for a long time, but we will get him fit and we will see a quality player in El Ghazi.”