Rayane Messi makes Saudi switch as Al-Ettifaq sign France-Cameroon winger

Rayane Messi, the 19-year-old France and Cameroon winger, has joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq from Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on loan.

The left winger’s move was completed on 14 August 2026, with the temporary transfer scheduled to run until 30 June 2027. Messi is due to return to Strasbourg at the end of the loan.

Messi arrives at Al-Ettifaq after spending the second half of the 2025-26 season in Saudi Arabia with NEOM SC. He joined NEOM on loan from Strasbourg on 2 February 2026 before returning to his parent club at the end of June.

During his time in Saudi Arabia, Messi made 13 Saudi Pro League appearances, scoring once and providing one assist. His move to Al-Ettifaq gives him another opportunity to play in the country’s top flight after his brief spell with NEOM.

Before that, Messi spent the first half of the 2025-26 campaign on loan at Pau FC. He made 14 Ligue 2 appearances and scored twice during that spell before returning to Strasbourg in February.

Messi joined Strasbourg’s senior set-up in July 2025 after progressing from the club’s reserve side. He had initially moved to Strasbourg B from Dijon’s under-19 team in August 2024 in a transfer worth €1.5m.

The forward began his development with Versailles before joining Dijon’s youth system in 2022. He has since established himself as a left-sided attacker, while also recording appearances in France’s lower divisions and youth competitions.

Messi is listed at 1.75m and prefers his right foot despite operating primarily from the left wing. His current market value is €2.8m, while his highest recorded value is €3m.

The loan represents the latest stage of a career that has already included spells in France’s professional leagues and two moves to Saudi clubs within the same calendar year. Al-Ettifaq have secured his services for the 2026-27 season, with the agreement running until June 2027.

Messi has therefore completed a loan move from Strasbourg to Al-Ettifaq, where he will remain until the scheduled end of the 2026-27 campaign.