Diriyah make statement signing with Senegal veteran Idrissa Gueye

Diriyah have completed the signing of Senegal international Idrissa Gueye, making the 36-year-old one of the most prominent arrivals at the newly promoted club ahead of their first season in the Roshn Saudi League.

The Saudi side confirmed the deal on its official social media accounts, presenting Gueye as a major part of an ambitious recruitment drive before their top-flight debut. His arrival gives Diriyah a player with extensive experience of European football and international competition.

The club unveiled the midfielder with a series of celebratory posts reflecting both his reputation and the expectations surrounding his move.

“Here in the home of champions… from the cup of glory to ‘Idrissa Gueye’, a coffee cup,” Diriyah wrote in one message.

In a second post, the club added: “He accepted nothing but determination… when needed, for his glory he spreads his wings and soars, Idrissa has arrived, a bird among the birds of fortune.”

The signing is intended to strengthen a squad preparing to face the demands of the Roshn Saudi League for the first time. Diriyah will hope Gueye’s experience can help the team adapt to the higher level while also providing guidance to a group of players entering a new phase in the club’s development.

Gueye has played 569 matches for club and country during a career that has taken him across some of Europe’s leading leagues. Those appearances include 30 in the UEFA Champions League, while he has represented Senegal on 135 occasions.

The midfielder began to establish himself at the highest level with Lille in France before later playing for Paris Saint-Germain. His career also included spells in England with Aston Villa and Everton, where he produced performances that helped establish him as one of the leading midfielders of his generation.

His record at elite clubs and international level is expected to make him a central figure for Diriyah as they prepare for the new campaign. The club’s promotion has created an opportunity to compete against Saudi Arabia’s established top-flight teams, but it also brings the challenge of maintaining the standards required across a full season.

Gueye’s arrival therefore represents more than an experienced addition to the squad. Diriyah are also acquiring a player familiar with demanding matches, major dressing rooms and the pressure attached to competing at the highest level.

The move comes as Saudi clubs continue to shape their squads during the ongoing summer transfer window. For Diriyah, the decision to bring in a Senegal veteran with a substantial European and international record underlines the scale of their ambitions before their first appearance among Saudi football’s leading sides.

A separate report referenced by the source also concerns claims that Edouard Mendy had been removed from Al Ahli’s squad amid alleged involvement in technical matters.