Al Ahli Saudi FC close in on Monaco teenager Pape Cabral

Al Ahli Saudi FC are nearing an agreement to sign 19-year-old Monaco midfielder Pape Cabral in a permanent transfer worth €10m, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.

Negotiations between the Saudi Pro League club and Monaco have accelerated in recent hours, with a deal understood to be close at a fee equivalent to about 44m Saudi riyals.

Monaco are seeking to raise funds after several sales they had expected to complete failed to materialise before the European transfer window closed. The French club are now considering the departure of one of their most promising young players, despite having recently underlined their long-term commitment to Cabral.

Al Ahli Saudi FC contacted Monaco to discuss the midfielder’s availability, and talks progressed quickly. The proposed move would be a permanent transfer rather than a loan.

Monaco’s financial situation is understood to have been influenced by the collapse of United States forward Folarin Balogun’s proposed move to Everton during the final hours of the English transfer window. Monaco had been relying on that deal to provide a significant injection of funds and help balance their accounts.

The club are also under pressure to meet the financial requirements set by France’s football financial monitoring authority. That has prompted Monaco to examine the possibility of selling Cabral, even though he has been viewed as an important part of the club’s future plans.

The Saudi transfer window remains open after the market closed in several European leagues, giving Monaco an opportunity to complete further sales. That timing has made Al Ahli Saudi FC’s offer a potentially beneficial solution for both clubs, provided the final agreement is reached.

Cabral’s possible departure is particularly notable because Monaco announced on 6 August that he had extended his contract until 30 June 2031. The renewal appeared to demonstrate the club’s intention to retain the player for the long term, but Al Ahli Saudi FC’s interest emerged less than a month after the new contract was signed.

Cabral joined the Monaco academy during the 2022-23 season from CS Manviliers. He played a key role in Monaco’s success in the 2023 Coupe Gambardella, scoring in the semi-final against Nantes before finding the net again in the final against Clermont.

The midfielder subsequently progressed through Monaco’s youth teams. He made 22 appearances for the under-19 side and represented France Under-17s at the European Under-17 Championship.

Cabral then moved closer to first-team involvement after featuring for Monaco’s elite group. He made his senior debut on 27 September 2025 against Lorient and went on to make further appearances during the season, including a Champions League outing against Manchester City.

He finished the 2025-26 campaign with six appearances for Monaco’s first team, according to the club’s official records.

Cabral also took part in Monaco’s preparations for the current season. He played in friendly matches against Saint-Priest, Sporting Lisbon and Cercle Brugge, suggesting he remained part of the club’s plans before the financial circumstances surrounding the final days of the transfer market altered the situation.

However, he was not included in Monaco’s squad for their most recent match against Olympique de Marseille, which Monaco won 2-0. A few days later, L’Equipe reported that Al Ahli Saudi FC had entered advanced negotiations to sign him.