Al Nassr allowed to retain youth players despite transfer restrictions

Al Nassr have been given permission to renew the contracts of their academy players and youth-team coaches, a decision that protects the Saudi club’s future amid ongoing financial difficulties.

The Financial Control Committee of the Saudi Pro League had previously barred Al Nassr from making new signings during the current summer transfer window. The only exception was Portuguese midfielder Samu Costa, who joined from Spanish club Real Mallorca.

The committee had also refused to approve the renewal of several first-team contracts, including that of Saudi winger Abdulrahman Ghareeb. The restrictions also affected a number of players in Al Nassr’s Under-21 side, which competes in the Jawwy Elite League.

However, Al-Riyadiyah reports that the Saudi Pro League has now reversed its position on youth contracts and approved renewals for players across Al Nassr’s various age-group teams. The decision particularly benefits the squad competing in the Saudi Under-21 competition.

The approval is not limited to player contracts. The league has also authorised Al Nassr to renew the agreements of coaches working with the club’s different youth teams, including the coaching staff of the Under-21 side.

The ruling is significant for the Riyadh-based club, which has a number of promising players developing across its academy structure. It is especially important for the team competing in the Jawwy Elite League, where Al Nassr are attempting to build on last season’s progress.

Al Nassr reached the quarter-finals of the previous edition of the Jawwy Elite League before being eliminated by Al Fateh. Al Fateh went on to reach the final, where they were beaten by Al Hazem.

Al Nassr have made a strong start to the new campaign. They opened their season with a 4-0 victory over Al Jabalain, with Saad Haqawi and Haider Abdulkarim among those to impress during the match.

Their next fixture is against Al Fateh in Al-Ahsa on Sunday, with the match forming part of the third round of the competition.

The latest decision means Al Nassr can continue developing and retaining players within their youth system despite the financial measures imposed on the club. It also allows the club to maintain its coaching structure across the age groups while the first-team squad remains subject to restrictions on recruitment and contract renewals.

The Jawwy Elite League is available to watch on stc tv.