Raed Chikhaoui Profile, Stats and Career
Tunisia's 'Watchtower' — a 21-year-old 6 ft 3 in centre-back who rose from Ligue 2 to the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad in under three seasons.
By
Muhammad Asad
Published June 2026Raed Chikhaoui is a 21-year-old Tunisian centre-back playing for US Monastir in the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1. Known as 'The Watchtower' for his height and versatility, the 6 ft 3 in defender earned his first senior Tunisia call-up in March 2026 and was selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad — one of the youngest defenders at the tournament. This profile covers his age, emergence at Monastir, first senior caps, and role in Tunisia's World Cup squad.
Born in Sakiet Ezzit near Sfax, Chikhaoui began his career at ES Hammam Sousse in the Tunisian Ligue 2 before US Monastir signed him in January 2024 for €15,000. In the 2025–26 season he made 21 Ligue Professionnelle 1 appearances and scored 3 goals — an exceptional contribution from a young centre-back. His first Tunisia senior call-up came in March 2026, and he was named in the final 26-man World Cup squad in May 2026.
Quick Answer
Raed Chikhaoui is a Tunisian professional centre-back born on 9 June 2004 in Sakiet Ezzit, Tunisia. He plays for US Monastir in the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 and made his senior Tunisia debut in 2025. Known as 'The Watchtower' due to his 6 ft 3 in height, Chikhaoui was selected for Tunisia's 2026 FIFA World Cup squad at age 21. His contract at Monastir runs through 30 June 2028.
Early Life and Background
Raed Chikhaoui was born on 9 June 2004 in Sakiet Ezzit — a coastal city in the Sfax Governorate of Tunisia, adjacent to Sfax city itself. He grew up in the Sfax region, one of Tunisia's most football-rich areas, and began his professional development at ES Hammam Sousse — a club in Tunisia's second division.
His progress through Hammam Sousse's structure produced limited first-division experience — just 2 Ligue 2 appearances in 2023–24 — but his physical qualities and positional instincts caught the attention of US Monastir, who were building an ambitious squad following their growing profile in Tunisian and continental football.
US Monastir: rapid rise to international recognition
US Monastir signed Chikhaoui in January 2024 for a fee of €15,000 — minimal investment for what turned out to be exceptional value. He made 14 Ligue Professionnelle 1 appearances in 2024–25 and then broke through fully in 2025–26: 21 league appearances, 3 goals, and 3 yellow cards alongside 1 CAF Champions League appearance and 1 Cup match.
Nicknamed 'The Watchtower' by Tunisian football fans for his 6 ft 3 in height combined with his ability to read the game from deep and sweep up attacks before they develop, his performances at Monastir prompted his first senior Tunisia call-up in March 2026. He was named in the final 26-man World Cup squad in May 2026 — one of the youngest centre-backs in Tunisia's history to make a World Cup squad.
Raed Chikhaoui Personal Info and Profile
| Full name | Raed Chikhaoui |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 9 June 2004 |
| Age | 21 |
| Place of birth | Sakiet Ezzit, Tunisia |
| Nationality | Tunisia |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in / 1.91 m |
| Weight | ~183 lbs / 83 kg |
| Nickname | The Watchtower |
| Position | Centre-Back |
| Preferred foot | Right |
| Current club | US Monastir |
| Jersey number | 25 |
| Contract expires | 30 June 2028 |
At 21, Chikhaoui is the youngest outfield defender in Tunisia's 2026 World Cup squad. His 6 ft 3 in frame and ability to play across defence and midfield — as noted in his Wikipedia profile — give Tunisia's coaching staff a versatile, physically imposing option that they can deploy in multiple defensive systems.
Transfer News and Market Value
Raed Chikhaoui joined US Monastir from ES Hammam Sousse in January 2024 for €15,000 — a transfer that looks like exceptional value given his subsequent development. His contract runs through 30 June 2028.
His market value has not been publicly estimated but based on his age, height, and international emergence, a valuation in the range of €500,000–1.5 million would be consistent with a 21-year-old World Cup-squad centre-back from the Tunisian league.
No European transfer interest has been publicly reported ahead of the World Cup. His Monastir contract through 2028 provides the club with security, though a prominent World Cup showing could trigger significant interest.
Post-World Cup, his profile as one of the youngest defenders in the tournament — at 6 ft 3 in with international caps and a domestic league top-scorer record from defence — will attract attention from Arab-world clubs and potentially European scouting networks.
Salary and Net Worth
Raed Chikhaoui's salary at US Monastir is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000 per month, consistent with a young first-team starter at a Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 club.
His €15,000 transfer fee suggests his initial contract with Monastir was at entry-level professional rates, though subsequent contract adjustments likely followed his breakthrough performances.
At ES Hammam Sousse in the second division, earnings would have been at the lower end of Tunisian professional rates.
His World Cup squad selection provides a FIFA prize pool supplement through the Tunisian Football Federation — his first major international tournament payment.
Total career earnings to date are estimated at under $300,000 USD, reflecting his age and the domestic Tunisian career path.
Commercial opportunities are minimal but growing. His nickname 'The Watchtower' and his unusual profile as a 21-year-old World Cup centre-back could attract brand interest.
Estimated net worth at this very early career stage is approximately $150,000–250,000 USD. His earning trajectory could change dramatically following World Cup exposure.
Raed Chikhaoui Club Career
Chikhaoui began his career at ES Hammam Sousse in Tunisia's Ligue 2, making 2 appearances in the 2023–24 season before Monastir's €15,000 purchase gave him his first-division opportunity. The step up to Ligue Professionnelle 1 was significant — competing against Tunisia's best players in the country's most competitive domestic environment.
His 2024–25 season at Monastir (14 appearances) was a bedding-in period that prepared him for his breakout 2025–26 campaign: 21 Ligue 1 appearances, 3 goals, CAF Champions League experience, and the performances that earned him Tunisia senior call-ups.
Scoring 3 goals from centre-back in a domestic season is an unusual achievement — reflecting both his aerial threat at set pieces and his ability to arrive in attacking positions. Monastir's tactical approach evidently involves their centre-backs in set-piece attacking situations, and Chikhaoui has been effective in that role.
His Monastir contract through 2028 and his growing profile in both domestic and international football make him one of the more watched young Tunisian defenders heading into the 2026 World Cup.
Club Career Stats
| Period | Club | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–2024 | ES Hammam Sousse (Ligue 2) | 10+ | 1 |
| 2024–present | US Monastir | 35+ | 4 |
2025–26 season (US Monastir)
| Competition | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Ligue Professionnelle 1 | 21 | 3 |
| CAF Champions League | 1 | 1 |
| Tunisia Cup | 1 | 1 |
International Career
Raed Chikhaoui received his first senior Tunisia call-up in March 2026 following his consistent performances at Monastir. He earned 1 cap in a friendly before being selected for the final 26-man World Cup squad in May 2026 — a remarkable progression from Ligue 2 to a World Cup squad in under three years.
His selection was described in BBC Sport's report on Tunisia's squad announcement — which notably excluded veteran Ferjani Sassi — as part of coach Sabri Lamouchi's decision to include younger, physically imposing defensive options alongside the experienced core.
At 21, Chikhaoui enters the 2026 World Cup as the youngest outfield defender in Tunisia's squad. His role will primarily be as defensive depth — coverage behind the more established Talbi, Bronn, and Rekik — but his physical profile gives the coaching staff an option to deploy him in high-press or aerial-heavy tactical situations if required.
| National team | Caps | Goals | Tournament involvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tunisia | 3 | 0 | Friendly 2026; 2026 FIFA World Cup squad |
Honours and Trophies
| Trophy | Times Won | Years |
|---|---|---|
| CAF Champions League participation | — | US Monastir 2025–26 |
| Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 participation | — | US Monastir 2024–26 |
Playing Style and Key Strengths
Raed Chikhaoui is a physically imposing right-footed centre-back whose 6 ft 3 in frame gives him exceptional aerial authority — explaining the 'Watchtower' nickname earned from Tunisian fans. His height combined with his ability to read attacking play and position himself effectively makes him difficult to beat in one-on-one aerial situations.
His 3 goals in the 2025–26 Ligue Professionnelle 1 season from centre-back reflect an unusual attacking contribution that suggests excellent positioning at set pieces and willingness to arrive in the area. His versatility — noted as able to play in defence, midfield, and attack — gives coaches flexibility in tactical deployment.
The Watchtower — height as a tactical weapon
Chikhaoui's nickname comes from his combination of exceptional height and aerial dominance with defensive reading — a player who scans the game from a high vantage point and intercepts before challenges are needed. His 6 ft 3 in stature is among the most imposing in the Tunisian squad and gives Tunisia an aerial threat at both ends during set pieces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Raed Chikhaoui's rapid rise from ES Hammam Sousse's Ligue 2 to Tunisia's 2026 FIFA World Cup squad in under three professional seasons is one of the most impressive development arcs in Tunisian domestic football. A €15,000 transfer that led to 3 league goals, a CAF Champions League appearance, and a World Cup squad place.
At 21, with a Monastir contract through 2028 and the World Cup as his first major international exposure, Chikhaoui's career is at its very beginning. His physical gifts — the height, the reading, the aerial dominance — give him everything needed to become a major presence in Tunisian and potentially continental African football across the next decade.
