Al Nassr caught in Saudi transfer chain as financial rules threaten two-player plan

Al Nassr may have to give up on signing Saeed Baattiah and allow Ali Al-Hassan to leave this summer in order to complete the renewal of Abdulrahman Ghareeb’s contract, with Saudi Pro League financial restrictions limiting the club’s options.

The Saudi club has been prevented from making new signings during the current summer transfer window by the Roshn Saudi League’s Financial Monitoring Committee. The only exception is Portuguese midfielder Samu Costa, who joined from Real Mallorca.

The restrictions are linked to Al Nassr’s financial difficulties and have left the club needing to balance any incoming or outgoing deals carefully.

According to Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, the league has agreed in principle to Al Nassr’s request to renew the contract of Saudi winger Abdulrahman Ghareeb. His previous deal expired at the end of last season.

However, that approval is conditional on Al Nassr resolving the future of midfielder Ali Al-Hassan. Al Fateh are interested in signing Al-Hassan, and his departure would create the financial and registration room required for Ghareeb’s new contract to be formally approved.

Al Fateh, in turn, cannot complete a deal for Al-Hassan unless they first sell another player. That player is Saudi full-back Saeed Baattiah, who is a strong target for Al Ahli.

The developing chain of transfers has placed Al Nassr in a difficult position. The club had also been interested in Baattiah this summer and came close to bringing him in as part of an exchange deal involving their international goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi moving to Al Fateh.

That proposed arrangement ultimately failed to reach completion. Baattiah could now move to Al Ahli instead, with Al Nassr having to accept missing out on the defender so that Al Fateh can sign Al-Hassan.

The sequence would then allow Al Nassr to secure the continuation of Ghareeb’s career at the club.

Ghareeb is understood to have signed his new contract with Al Nassr some time ago, but the agreement has been awaiting clearance from the Financial Monitoring Committee. That approval now appears close, provided the club can complete the necessary player movement.

The situation highlights the impact of the Roshn Saudi League’s financial controls on Al Nassr’s transfer plans. Rather than being able to conduct the deals independently, the club’s attempt to retain Ghareeb is tied to Al-Hassan’s move to Al Fateh, while that transfer depends on Baattiah’s potential switch to Al Ahli.

For Al Nassr, the immediate priority is therefore not simply adding to the squad. It is completing the sequence of departures and registrations required to make Ghareeb’s renewal possible, even if that means abandoning their interest in Baattiah and helping a traditional rival strengthen its defence.