Adam Masina

Contents

Adam Masina (Arabic: أدم ماسينا; born 2 January 1994) is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for the Morocco national team.

Coming through Bologna's youth academy, Masina made his senior appearance with the club in 2012, and transferred to Watford in 2018. He was also loaned to Giacomense twice.

Masina was born in Morocco but moved to Italy at a young age. He initially represented Italy at an international level of under-21, before switching to play for the Morocco national team in 2021.

Club career

Masina was born in Khouribga, Morocco, but lost his mother as just an infant. He successively moved to Italy together with his brother and father, settling down in Emilia-Romagna, and was later assigned to a number of foster families due to his father's problems with alcoholism. He was eventually adopted by one of them, from which he took his last name.[1] In interviews conducted in 2015, he identified himself as a Catholic Christian.[2]

After a successful loan in Giacomense, Masina returned to Bologna in 2013 and made his senior debut for the Rossoblu in a 2–1 away victory over Latina on 12 October 2014.[3] He helped the club obtain Serie A promotion, later debuting in the top division, and scoring his first goal in Serie A in an injury time victory at Carpi.[4]

On 2 July 2018, Masina signed for English club Watford on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[5]

On 18 July 2022, Masina signed a three-year contract with Italian club Udinese.[6] On 1 February 2024, he moved on loan to Torino, with an option to buy.[7]

On 14 June 2024, Torino announced that they had activated their option to buy, Masina signing a two-year contract.[8] On 2 February 2026, the contract with Torino was terminated by mutual consent.[9]

International career

In November 2015, Luigi Di Biagio called Masina to represent Italy U21 team after obtaining FIFA transfer.[10] He debuted with the Italy U21 side on 17 November 2015, in a Euro 2017 qualification match against Lithuania.[4]

In March 2021, Masina was called up to represent Morocco in African Cup of Nations qualifier matches against Mauritania and Burundi,[11] debuting on 26 March 2021 against the former.[12]

On 11 December 2025, Masina was called up to the Morocco squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.[13]

Style of play

Masina is known in particular for his technique, physicality and energy as a left-back.[4]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Giacomense (loan)2012–13Lega Pro Seconda Divisione11000—00110
Bologna2013–14Serie A0000—0000
2014–15Serie B28100—00281
2015–16Serie A33210—00342
2016–17Serie A32120—00341
2017–18Serie A34010—00350
Total127440—001314
Watford2018–19Premier League1404020—200
2019–20Premier League2611010—281
2020–21Championship2521000—262
2021–22Premier League1500010—160
Total803604000903
Udinese2022–23Serie A12210——132
2023–24Serie A4010——50
Total162200000182
Torino (loan)2023–24Serie A16000——160
Torino2024–25Serie A28110——291
2025–26Serie A5010——60
Torino total491200000511
Career total28310140400030110

Honours

Watford

  • FA Cup runner-up: 2018–19[14]

Morocco

  • Africa Cup of Nations: 2025[15]

Individual

  • Serie B Footballer of the Year: 2015[16]
  • EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2020–21[17]

References

  1. 1."Watford's Adam Masina: "What I went through was different from normal life"". The Guardian. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  2. 2."Dal Marocco fino alla Serie A: Masina, l'immigrato dal cuore azzurro". Gioco Pulito. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015. Sono cristiano cattolico, ma non mi sento un simbolo di integrazione.
  3. 3."Latina vs. Bologna line-ups". Goal. 12 October 2014.
  4. 4.[4.2][4.3]"Un 2015 da favola per Masina". UEFA (in Italian). 29 December 2015. Archived from the original on 3 January 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  5. 5."Official: Masina Moves To Watford". Watford F.C. 2 June 2019. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  6. 6."Adam Masina è bianconero". Udinese (in Italian). 18 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  7. 7."Masina al Toro" [Masina at Toro]. Torino FC (in Italian). 1 February 2024.
  8. 8."TORO E MASINA, AVANTI INSIEME" [TORO AND MASINA, FORWARD TOGETHER]. www.torinofc.it (in Italian). 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  9. 9."Nota del club" [Club Note] (in Italian). Torino FC. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  10. 10."Arrivato il transfert dalla FIFA: Di Biagio convoca il difensore del Bologna Masina" [FIFA transfer has arrived: Di Biagio calls up Bologna defender Masina]. Italian Football Federation (in Italian). 10 November 2015. Archived from the original on 8 July 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  11. 11."Internationals: Eleven Hornets Called Up". Watford F.C. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  12. 12.Jackson, Graeme (26 March 2021). "Morocco held in Nouakchott". African Football.
  13. 13."Morocco name star-studded AFCON squad as Hakimi makes cut but Diop misses out". Confederation of African Football. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  14. 14.McNulty, Phil (18 May 2019). "Manchester City 6–0 Watford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  15. 15.Bosher, Luke; Joseph, Sam; Harris, Jay (18 March 2026). "Morocco crowned AFCON winners 57 days after final as Senegal's victory declared void". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  16. 16."Oscar del Calcio, dominio Juve. Buffon: "Donnarumma ha doti da grande"" [Serie A Oscars, Juve dominate. Buffon: "Donnarumma has the characteristics to be great"]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 14 December 2015.
  17. 17."2021 EFL Awards winners announced". EFL. Retrieved 12 February 2024.