Standard Liege have confirmed the signing of Madagascan international midfielder Marco Ilaimaharitra. The move has been quite a controversial one, given that the midfielder was recently captain of the sides rivals Standard Liege. Since leaving the Zebras at the end of the 2023/2024 campaign, Ilaimaharitra was signed on a free by Kortrijk in January. He was unable to help keep the side in the Pro League, but the move was enough for him to earn a two year deal with Standard.
It was surprising that Ilaimaharitra did not find a new club for so many months. On his day, the 29-year-old is one of the better defensive midfielders in Belgian football. After joining Charleroi from Sochaux back in 2017 he went on to make 231 appearances for the side, with 15 goals. He is also a full international for Madagascar and scored an incredible goal during the sides appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019. The goal sealed a 1-0 win for the side, their first ever victory at the tournament.
Under new Sporting Director Marc Wilmots Standard have been one of the most active sides in Belgium and look set to continue to sign players for the first team in the coming weeks, despite a lack of money to invest. Many players are joining at the end of contracts or for minimal fees. So far the side have also signed Lucas Pirard from Kortrijk and Tobias Mohr from Schalke 04.
GBeNeFNย |ย Ben Jackson
