Transfer Round-Up: Summer of Saudi! (21st-22nd June 2023)
Oran Darragh from The Bottom Bins Podcast looks at the latest stars being linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, with two HUGE deals reportedly set to be confirmed…
• Edouard Mendy (Chelsea to Al-Ahli)
The first player on the ever-growing list of players in talks with a move to Saudi Arabia is Chelsea’s Senegalese goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy.
According to transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, a three-yeardeal has been verbally agreed that will see Mendy leave Stamford Bridge for Al-Ahli after just 3 years in England in which he won the UEFA Champions League, Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
The shot-stopper has recently become out of favour in London, being replaced as first-choice by Spain’s Kepa Arrizabalaga, which has surely played an integral role in his imminent transfer to Saudi Arabia.
• Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City to Al-Ahli)
Sticking with Al-Ahli - Just days on from a historic treble-winning campaign with Manchester City, 32-year-old winger, Riyad Mahrez has been approached by Saudi Arabian club, Al-Ahli, in a move that would reportedly see him earn over £45 million plus bonuses per season.
However, negotiations are not straight forward between the clubs as they are yet to discuss a transfer fee for the former Leicester forward, with Pep Guardiola reportedly reluctant to lose the Algerian, as he sees him as a key member of his squad.
Mahrez recorded 28 goal contributions last season in all competitions.
• David De Gea (Manchester United to Al-Hilal)
Moving from one side of Manchester to the other, Manchester United number one, David De Gea looks increasingly likely to be leaving the Red Devils on a free transfer, with his contract set to expire on July 1st.
United boss Erik ten Hag has repeatedly publicly stated his desire to tie down the Spanish international to new, reduced terms from his current, monumental, £375,000-per-week contract – however, with fresh terms yet to be agreed and following some recent below-par performances between the sticks, uncertainty has mounted over De Gea’s future, and SPL club Al Hilal are reportedly ready to pounce on his transfer.
A new goalkeeper is widely speculated to be a top priority for Erik ten Hag in this transfer window, with a progressive, ball-playing number one preferred, and names such as Inter Milan’s André Onana, and Porto shot-stopper Diogo Costa being touted as potential successors to David De Gea.
One thing is for certain, despite some poor performances over the past few seasons, if De Gea is to leave the Red Devils, he will forever remain a fan-favourite in Manchester and will be considered by many as a club legend after his 12 years of service.
• Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea to Al-Hilal)
Al-Hilal are seemingly looking to continue their defensive rejuvenation through the permanent signing of Chelsea centre-back, Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Senegalese only joined The Blues last year in a £33 million deal from Napoli, however, after an extremely disappointing season from both the team’s perspective, as well as a personal standpoint – it looks as though his time in London has been cut short as he has reportedly signed a lucrative deal to move to Saudi Arabia, despite a loan approach from Inter Milan.
It is believed that Chelsea are preferring permanent transfer offers over loans as they look to reduce their wage bill ahead of the upcoming season in order to comply with Financial Fair Play guidelines.
Koulibaly is expected to arrive at Al-Hilal in the next few weeks, with negotiations ongoing between clubs over a transfer fee for the defender.
• Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea to Al-Nassr)
Yet another Chelsea player seems to be making the switch to Saudi Arabia – Moroccan winger, Hakim Ziyech has agreed a three-year deal that will see him link up with Portuguese ace, Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
The former Ajax winger struggled for form during his stay at Stamford Bridge and did not reach the levels that football fans were used to from him during his time in the Netherlands, particularly in their remarkable run in the Champions League back in 2019.
However, he will now have the chance to get his career back on track in Saudi Arabia, playing alongside the aforementioned Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Anderson Talisca, as Al-Nassr look to close the gap at the top of the table having only narrowly missed out on domestic success last season.
It is reported that Ziyech will leave Chelsea on a free transfer.
• Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers to Al-Hilal)
Potentially one of the most surprising transfers of the summer – remarkably, Ruben Neves is set to leave the Premier League for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, in a deal worth £47 million.
The Portuguese midfielder is widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s elite in his position, and since his move to Wolves, he has continuously been linked with moves to the best teams around Europe, and with just a year left on his contract, Neves was heavily touted to be making a move to FC Barcelona this summer – however, the financial situation the La Liga champions find themselves in are thought to have scuppered any potential move.
As recently as the end of the 2022/23 season, Neves reiterated his ambition to play regularly in the Champions League, but with his move to the Saudi Pro League all but confirmed, eyebrows have been raised about Neves’ competitive mindset as he leaves European football in his prime, at just 26 years of age.
• Bernardo Silva (Manchester City to Al-Ahli/Al-Nassr)
Another player that could be making the switch from the Premier League to the Saudi Pro League, is Manchester City’s maestro, Bernardo Silva.
According to Spanish outlet MARCA, the Portuguese playmaker is set to agree to a lucrative contract offer from a Saudi club, with Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr touted as potential destinations.
Silva’s current club teammate, Riyad Mahrez, is also reportedly close to joining Al-Ahli, however, both players face a similar dilemma – Manchester City will have to agree a (hefty) transfer fee for either player, and Pep Guardiola is reluctant to let them leave the newly-crowned treble winners.
Alternatively to Al-Ahli, could we potentially see Bernardo Silva link up with his international captain, Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr? I guess we’ll find out soon!
• Thomas Partey (Arsenal to Al-Nassr/Al-Ahli/Al-Khaleej)
Despite a season of consistently high performances, Thomas Partey looks certain to leave Arsenal for Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks, with Mikel Arteta keen to replace the midfielder with West Ham’s ace, Declan Rice.
30-year-old Partey joined Arsenal back in 2020 from Atletico Madrid in a deal worth £45 million, and the Gunners are hoping to recoup the majority of that fee, with reports suggesting it will take around £37 million to prise him away from North London.
Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Khaleej are all reportedly in the race for Partey and willing to meet Arsenal’s demands, so a transfer to the Saudi Pro League is looking increasingly likelyas the transfer window rolls on.
• Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea to Al-Ittihad)
The latest Chelsea player linked with a move to the Middle East as part of their mass exodus is 22-year-old winger, Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The Blues academy graduate was once subject to a £60 million bid from German giants, Bayern Munich, however, this was immediately rejected by Chelsea at the time. Hudson-Odoi would go on to play in the Bundesliga however, whilst on loan at Bayer Leverkusen last season, where he made 14 league appearances in a season hampered with injuries.
At the age of just 22, Hudson-Odoi still has a potentially huge future ahead of him, and it is unclear whether he will consider a move to the Saudi Pro League at this stage of his career, with Nottingham Forest also interested in securing his signature.
Hudson-Odoi has one year left on his current Chelsea contract.
• Marcelo Brozovic (Internazionale to Al-Nassr)
Champions League finalist, Marcelo Brozovic is in talks to join Hakim Ziyech in transferring to Al-Nassr this summer, with negotiations ongoing after their first bid of £18 million was rejected by the Italians, as they hold out for a fee closer to the region of £23 million.
Barcelona were also keen on securing Brozovic’s services to replace the outgoing Sergio Busquets, however, much like their pursuit of Ruben Neves, this transfer was hindered by the financial barriers they face.
The Croatian looks set to be leaving Milan this summer, and according to reports from across Europe, Al-Nassr and Saudi Arabia are his most likely suitors.