Al Ettifaq secure Strasbourg forward Rayane Messi in option-to-buy deal

Rayane Messi has left RC Strasbourg for a second loan spell in Saudi Arabia, joining Al Ettifaq with an option to buy after failing to establish himself in the French club’s first-team squad.

The 19-year-old returned to Strasbourg this summer following a six-month loan at Neom SC in the Saudi Pro League. During his time there, the Franco-Cameroonian winger made 13 appearances, scoring once and providing one assist.

Messi featured in Strasbourg’s pre-season programme, appearing in matches in Portugal against Sporting CP and Blackburn Rovers under head coach Hugo Oliveira. However, he was not given further playing time after those fixtures and will now continue his development in the Middle East.

Strasbourg confirmed the move in a statement published on the club’s official website. The agreement is a loan deal with an option for Al Ettifaq to sign Messi permanently, although neither club has disclosed the financial terms or the value of that option.

A number of European clubs had made enquiries about the player’s situation before his latest move to Saudi Arabia, according to an exclusive report by Africafoot.

Messi joined Strasbourg in 2024 from Dijon amid high expectations, but he has been unable to secure a regular place in the senior squad in Alsace. His only competitive appearances for the club came in two Coupe de France matches during the 2024-25 season.

He has not played in a Ligue 1 fixture for Strasbourg. The forward’s contract with the French club remains in place until the summer of 2030, meaning the new loan arrangement does not represent a permanent departure at this stage.

Transfermarkt currently gives Messi an estimated market value of 2.8m euros.

Strasbourg are due to begin their French league campaign shortly, with a first-round match against OM. The published betting prices for that fixture list Strasbourg at 4.15 to win, a draw at 4.20 and an OM victory at 1.69.

Messi’s move to Al Ettifaq gives him the opportunity to play regularly in Saudi Arabia after a limited period of involvement in Strasbourg’s senior team. It is also his second spell in the Saudi Pro League in a matter of months, following his time with Neom SC.