Al-Nassr face losing two players for free after fresh registration rejection

Al-Nassr could lose Abdulrahman Ghareeb and goalkeeper Raghad Al-Najjar without receiving a transfer fee before the start of the 2026-27 Saudi football season, after the Saudi Pro League’s Financial Control Committee rejected the club’s latest request to register Ghareeb’s contract.

The Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Al-Nassr had submitted a new application to register the Saudi winger, but the request was turned down again despite the club being allowed to sign Portuguese midfielder Samu Costa from Real Mallorca.

Al-Nassr agreed a contract extension with Ghareeb two months ago, shortly before his previous deal was due to expire at the end of last season. However, the club has been unable to activate the renewal because of financial restrictions imposed on it.

The latest rejection leaves Ghareeb at risk of leaving Al-Nassr as a free agent if the club fails to register his contract before the summer transfer window closes.

The 29-year-old had already been close to departing Al-Nassr during the previous winter transfer window. Saudi Pro League rivals Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad were both interested in signing him, but Ghareeb ultimately decided to remain with Al-Nassr and agreed to renew his contract.

Ghareeb was one of Al-Nassr’s leading performers in the most recent edition of the AFC Champions League Two. He helped the club reach the final, where they were beaten 1-0 by Japanese side Gamba Osaka.

His situation is not an isolated case at Al-Nassr. The same registration problem also affects goalkeeper Raghad Al-Najjar, who has renewed his contract but has yet to have the new agreement formally registered.

The club’s financial difficulties have restricted its activity in the current summer transfer window. Al-Nassr have completed only one signing so far, bringing in Costa from Real Mallorca to replace Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.

The inability to register existing contract renewals has added to the pressure on Al-Nassr ahead of the new campaign. Unless the club can resolve the financial issue and secure approval for the agreements, both Ghareeb and Al-Najjar could become available to leave without a transfer fee.

Ghareeb’s potential departure would be particularly significant given his contribution to Al-Nassr’s run to the AFC Champions League Two final and the interest previously shown by Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad. For now, however, his future remains dependent on whether Al-Nassr can satisfy the league’s Financial Control Committee before the transfer window ends.