Bank guarantee, politics kill Algeria’s Anis Hadj Moussa’s Al Ittihad move

Anis Hadj Moussa’s proposed move from Feyenoord to Saudi Arabian giants Al Ittihad has collapsed dramatically after the Dutch club demanded a bank guarantee and internal political pressure mounted against the transfer.

Feyenoord and Al Ittihad had reportedly reached a verbal agreement worth around €42.5 million for the Algerian winger on Sunday, only for the deal to fall apart before the Saudi transfer deadline.

According to reports, Feyenoord insisted on receiving a bank guarantee before releasing Hadj Moussa, but Al Ittihad refused, arguing that obtaining such a guarantee before Sunday evening’s deadline was unnecessary and unfeasible.

The late disagreement ultimately prompted Feyenoord directors Devy Rigaux and Robert Eenhoorn to block the transfer, leaving the 24-year-old winger at the Rotterdam club until at least January.

The dramatic conclusion follows days of uncertainty surrounding Hadj Moussa, who had been heavily linked with Al Ittihad since the Dutch transfer deadline last Wednesday.

Al Ittihad kept raising the stakes

The Saudi club initially tested Feyenoord’s resolve with a €30 million bid, but technical director Devy Rigaux made it clear that the offer would not be accepted.

Al Ittihad subsequently increased its proposal to a package worth up to €37.5 million, which Feyenoord also rejected before the club returned with an offer believed to be worth approximately €42.5 million.

That figure would have comfortably surpassed Feyenoord’s existing club-record sale of Mats Wieffer to Brighton in 2024 for €32 million.

Yet the record-breaking fee was not enough to guarantee the deal’s completion, with the bank guarantee dispute becoming the decisive stumbling block.

Hadj Moussa saga deepens

The transfer drama had already begun to affect Hadj Moussa’s involvement with Feyenoord.

The Algerian was omitted from the squad for Saturday’s match against NEC Nijmegen after arriving late for both a team meeting and the team bus.

Manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst explained that the winger was left behind at the team hotel because of concerns that he did not have “his head in the right place.”

With his future uncertain, the situation appeared to point towards an imminent departure. Instead, Hadj Moussa will remain in Rotterdam after the deal collapsed at the final hurdle.

Pressure from Feyenoord backers

The proposed sale also carried significant consequences away from the pitch.

Vrienden van Feyenoord, a group of wealthy supporters and investors that helped rescue the club from bankruptcy in 2010 by injecting millions of euros, reportedly opposed the timing of Hadj Moussa’s departure.

The group, which also backed Eenhoorn’s appointment earlier this summer, threatened to withdraw its support from the board if Feyenoord sold the winger after the Dutch transfer deadline.

That pressure added another layer to an already complicated situation and contributed to the decision to stop the transfer despite Al Ittihad’s willingness to pay a record fee.

Feyenoord now keep their star

Hadj Moussa’s continued presence is particularly significant following Ayase Ueda’s €15 million move to Lille on Monday.

The Japan striker’s departure leaves Hadj Moussa as Feyenoord’s last major attacking star and one of the club’s most important players heading into the new campaign.

He has emerged as Feyenoord’s standout performer since joining from Belgian side Patro Eisden in 2024.

After registering 11 goal contributions in his first Eredivisie season, the right winger stepped up his production last term, scoring 11 goals and providing six assists in 30 league appearances.

Feyenoord have also registered him for their UEFA Champions League campaign, underlining his importance to the squad.