Saudi Pro League clubs complete 20 deals on busy transfer deadline day

The Saudi Arabian summer transfer window closed on Sunday after a frenetic final day in which Saudi Pro League clubs completed 20 official deals, including the signing of Georginio Wijnaldum by Al-Ittihad and the arrival of Ibrahima Diaby at Al-Ahli.

According to Okaz, clubs across Saudi Arabia used the final hours of the window to strengthen their squads, exchange players and recruit new overseas talent. The business involved teams from the Saudi Pro League as well as clubs competing in other divisions.

The activity included a number of moves between top-flight sides. Murad Khodari joined Al-Shabab from Al-Wehda, while Ricardo Mathias also moved to Al-Shabab from Al-Ahli.

Al-Shabab allowed Abdullah Hawsawi to join Al-Najma, while Mamadou Sangare left Al-Qadsiah to move to Manchester City Under-21s.

Al-Ittihad completed the signing of Wijnaldum, although the club from which the Netherlands international arrived was not specified in the announcement. Al-Ahli strengthened further with Diaby, who joined from Cercle Brugge, and Saeed Ba’atiyah, who moved from Al-Fateh.

Several clubs completed multiple deals before the deadline. Al-Khaleej signed Fawaz Al-Sugour from Al-Ittihad and Fahad Al-Rashidi from Al-Taawoun.

Al-Fayha brought in Yago Souza from America Mineiro and Turki Al-Jaadi from Al-Taawoun. Al-Fateh added Ali Al-Hassan from Al-Nassr and Hossam Al-Sadiq from Union Touarga.

Al-Taawoun recruited three players: Fares Al-Ghamdi from Al-Ettifaq, Ibrahim Mahnashi from Al-Qadsiah and Nasser Al-Halil from Al-Najma.

Abha completed two signings, securing Ammar Al-Yuhaibi from Al-Qadsiah and Matteo Borrell from Al-Ittihad. Al-Ettifaq also added Pedro Henrique, while Abdulilah Hawsawi joined the club from Al-Ittihad.

The deals represented a final burst of activity after a summer in which Saudi clubs continued to reshape their squads with domestic transfers and international recruitment.

The final-day business was reported by Okaz, which said the 20 moves were officially announced before the Saudi transfer window closed on Sunday. The deals covered direct transfers between Saudi Pro League clubs, moves involving teams from other levels of the Saudi football pyramid and arrivals from overseas clubs.

Among the most notable moves were those involving established international names, including Wijnaldum, while the majority of the day’s activity focused on strengthening squads across the league and providing opportunities for players moving between Saudi clubs.

The Saudi Pro League’s latest transfer window therefore ended with a concentrated wave of announcements, as clubs completed their remaining recruitment plans and finalised player movements before the deadline.