Al Nassr’s transfer restrictions leave them racing time before Saudi Pro League opener

Al Nassr have become the only club in the Saudi Pro League yet to complete a summer signing after Al-Ettifaq made their first addition of the transfer window.

Al-Ettifaq announced on Wednesday that they had signed Kosovo international playmaker Bersant Celina on a free transfer. The 28-year-old joined after his contract with Greek club AIK ended.

The move was completed after Al-Ettifaq received approval from the Saudi Pro League’s Recruitment Committee. The club had previously been subject to a number of financial restrictions.

Celina’s arrival means every team in the Saudi Pro League has now brought in at least one new player during the current summer transfer window, with Al Nassr the sole exception.

Al Nassr had reached an agreement with Spanish club Real Mallorca to sign their Portuguese midfielder Samu Costa. However, that transfer has not yet been completed because of the financial restrictions currently imposed on the Riyadh club.

A previous report by Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah said Al Nassr were facing a significant debt burden, with liabilities understood to have reached 800m Saudi riyals. Those debts led to financial measures being placed on the club, preventing them from completing new signings.

The situation has increased pressure on the Saudi Pro League champions, who are expected to strengthen their squad before the start of the new campaign. Their need for reinforcements has been heightened by the departure of Croatia international Marcelo Brozovic, who left after his contract expired at the end of last season.

Al Nassr supporters are hoping the financial issue can be resolved quickly, with the new Saudi Pro League season due to begin in a week.

The club will start their league campaign on Saturday, 15 August, when they face Al Fateh in the opening round of the competition.

Al-Ettifaq’s agreement for Celina came after the club had spent part of the summer operating under financial limitations, making the clearance from the Recruitment Committee a crucial step in allowing them to enter the market.

For Al Nassr, the restrictions have left their planned move for Samu Costa incomplete and have prevented them from matching the transfer activity of every other Saudi Pro League club. The club’s position is particularly significant given their status as champions and the short amount of time remaining before competitive football returns.

No new player has yet been registered by Al Nassr during the current summer window, leaving them with the prospect of beginning their title defence without a completed signing unless their financial situation changes before the opening match against Al Fateh.