Nabil Dunga has completed a permanent move from Egyptian giants Zamalek to Saudi Arabian side Al-Najma, signing a contract that runs from 2026-02-02 to 2026-06-30. The deal sees the 29-year-old defensive midfielder leave his home country to join the Saudi Pro League, with the confirmed transfer fee set at €848k and his current market value listed at €1.20m.
The switch ends Dunga’s spell at Zamalek, whom he joined from Pyramids FC in the 2022-23 season, and marks his first venture outside Egyptian football. Al-Najma, competing in the Saudi Pro League, have secured a player whose value has remained consistently around the €1m mark in recent years, reflecting his profile as an experienced holding midfielder with a solid reputation in North African football.
Born on 06 Apr 1996 and standing at 1.79m, Dunga has built his career in Egypt’s Premier League, progressing from Beni Ebeid Club to Pyramids FC in 2016 before earning his high-profile transfer to Zamalek. Over that period, his market value rose sharply from €25k in early 2017 to the €1m–€1.3m bracket during his peak years at Pyramids and Zamalek, underlining his development into a reliable midfield presence. By late 2025, his value had stabilised again at €1.20m.
At Zamalek, Dunga operated primarily as a defensive midfielder, shielding the back line and offering balance in possession. His right-footed profile and positional discipline made him a regular feature in the squad, and his valuation remained strong despite fluctuations in form and team performance. The move to Al-Najma confirms that the Saudi Pro League continues to attract established players from Africa’s top clubs, with Dunga now part of that growing trend.
The transfer also closes a long domestic chapter in Dunga’s career. Having played exclusively in Egypt’s Premier League before this move, he now steps into a new environment in Saudi Arabia, facing different tactical demands, higher-profile foreign signings, and increased international attention on the league. For Al-Najma, recruiting a player with continuous top-flight experience since 2016 represents a strategic addition in a key central area.
Dunga’s previous transfer history charts a steady climb: from Beni Ebeid Club to Pyramids FC in 2016, then to Zamalek in 2022, and now to Al-Najma in 2026. Each step has moved him to a bigger stage, and this latest move extends that pattern beyond Egypt’s borders. As his contract with the Saudi club runs its course, his next decision could determine whether he returns to Egyptian football, explores another foreign league, or eventually becomes a free agent.
For now, the confirmed transfer to Al-Najma places the Egyptian international in one of the region’s most closely watched competitions, offering him a platform to reinforce his value and shape the next phase of his career in the Saudi Pro League.
