Since joining Manchester City in 2022, Erling Haaland has been the team’s primary goal machine, netting 36 league goals in his first season, 38 in the second, and already tallying 27 this season. His hat-trick record is equally staggering—11 in total. But none of Haaland’s hat-tricks came as quickly as Omar Marmoush’s on Saturday night.
Facing Newcastle in the Premier League, Marmoush scored three goals in just 13 minutes and 54 seconds—his first-ever goals in the competition. Naturally, fans are curious about City’s new attacking star.
Who is Omar Marmoush?
The 26-year-old forward hails from Egypt and joined City in the January transfer window for €70 million from Eintracht Frankfurt. Playing for a club like City is a dream for many players, and Marmoush made that clear after signing, saying, “I will never forget this day. Joining one of the best clubs in the world is an incredible feeling. I’m overwhelmed, and my family is proud.”
Marmoush’s football journey began in Germany, where he moved in 2017 to play for Wolfsburg. Initially, he spent three years in the reserve team before going on loan to St. Pauli and Stuttgart. Eventually, he joined Frankfurt as a free agent before making his big move to City.
Why Did Manchester City Sign Him?
Marmoush’s arrival at City wasn’t part of a long-term plan. The club, which has dominated the Premier League in recent years, was struggling this season. At one point, they won just one of 13 games and suffered a goal drought in the process.
With Haaland managing just four goals in that period, no other City player had even reached three. That’s when City began searching for attacking reinforcements and identified Marmoush in Germany.
City’s sporting director, Txiki Begiristain, proposed his name, as Pep Guardiola explained: “Given the way the season was going, I told Txiki to bring in as many players as possible. I reached out to some friends in Germany to ask about him. They all spoke highly of him—his attitude, training, goal-scoring ability… He’s young and eager to build his career. That’s why the club decided to bring him in.”
Saturday’s performance proved that decision was the right one. Marmoush injected pace and directness into City’s attack, stretching Newcastle’s defense and creating chances. His three quick-fire goals sealed a dominant 4-0 victory.
The Next Mohamed Salah?
Given his Egyptian roots, many have compared Marmoush to Liverpool star Mohamed Salah. The similarities are undeniable—both are quick, skillful dribblers who can play as wingers or central forwards. But there’s one key difference: Marmoush has a multicultural background. His parents held Canadian citizenship, and he spent six years of his childhood in Canada before returning to Cairo, where he honed his football skills at the Wadi Degla Youth Academy.
Now, after stints in Egypt, Germany, and Canada, Marmoush has arrived in England—and it didn’t take him long to make an impact. His hat-trick against Newcastle was only the second by a City player in the past year, following Haaland’s. Given that he had already scored 20 goals in 26 matches for Frankfurt earlier this season, City fans have every reason to believe this is just the beginning.
Marmoush is under contract until June 2029, and if his early performances are anything to go by, he could be City’s next big star.
