Rayane Messi will spend the remainder of the season in Saudi Arabia after Strasbourg confirmed the 18-year-old winger has joined Neom SC on loan.
The Ligue 1 club announced the move on Saturday, marking a new step in the development of the French Under-19 international, who has yet to make his league debut for the Alsatian side since arriving in 2024.
Neom SC are currently eighth in the Saudi Pro League, where Messi will complete the campaign.
The decision follows a first half of the season spent in Ligue 2 with Pau FC. During his time with the Béarn-based club, the winger featured in 14 league matches and scored twice, gaining regular senior experience in a competitive environment.
That spell was seen as part of Strasbourg’s long-term plan to ease the young player into top-level football.
Signed from Dijon last year, Messi has so far been limited to appearances outside Ligue 1 for Strasbourg.
He played two matches with the first team in the Coupe de France, alongside four outings for the club’s Under-19 side and nine games with the reserve team.
Despite his absence from the league squad, the club has consistently highlighted his potential and the importance of carefully managing his progression.
In a statement announcing the move, Strasbourg underlined the developmental aspect of the loan, noting that the winger would continue his growth abroad.
“He will therefore continue his development with the current 8th-placed team in the Saudi Pro League,” the club said in its press release.
For Neom SC, the arrival of Messi represents an investment in youth as the club looks to strengthen its attacking options for the closing months of the season.
For the player, it offers exposure to a new footballing culture and the chance to gain further first-team experience at senior level.
The loan also reflects Strasbourg’s broader approach with young players, using carefully chosen temporary moves to provide competitive minutes rather than immediate top-flight exposure.
With the second half of the season now set to unfold in Saudi Arabia, the focus will be on how Messi adapts to his new surroundings and uses the opportunity to further his development.
The winger is expected to return to Strasbourg at the end of the season, where his progress will be assessed ahead of the next stage of his career.
