Saudi Pro League loses Morocco star Harimatte to Qatar club after ‘strange’ valuation row

Saudi Arabia’s Pro League has missed out on signing Morocco international Mohamed Rabii Harimatte after a controversial valuation by its own recruitment committee allowed Qatari side Al Shamal to swoop in with a higher offer.

The 32-year-old midfielder, a standout performer for Morocco at the 2025 Arab Cup in Qatar, has joined Al Shamal from FAR Rabat (AS FAR) in a deal worth around $2.5m, according to reports.

Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat says Harimatte had been on the verge of a move to Ettifaq FC in the Saudi Pro League, but the transfer collapsed after the league’s central recruitment committee priced the player at just $1.5m.

Under the system, the committee attached to the Saudi Pro League reportedly took charge of brokering the deal and insisted on that lower valuation, which is understood to have scuppered Ettifaq’s chances of completing the move.

Committee’s valuation under scrutiny

The recruitment committee, which operates under the umbrella of the Saudi Pro League, is said to have overseen negotiations for Harimatte on behalf of Ettifaq.

Asharq Al-Awsat reports that the committee “insisted” on assessing the player’s value at $1.5m, a figure that fell well below what Al Shamal were prepared to pay.

Because of this stance, Ettifaq were unable to secure Harimatte’s signature, and the Moroccan international instead agreed to join Al Shamal for approximately $2.5m.

The episode has intensified criticism from within Saudi football over the way the central committee intervenes in player valuations, with several clubs believed to have voiced their frustration in recent months.

Clubs complain of blocked transfers

A number of Saudi clubs have reportedly complained that the recruitment committee’s tight control over pricing has derailed multiple transfer moves during recent windows.

Those clubs argue that the committee’s involvement in setting maximum fees for incoming players can delay or even prevent deals, particularly when competing with rival leagues able to negotiate directly and more flexibly.

In Harimatte’s case, the gap between the committee’s price and the market offer from Qatar proved decisive, enabling Al Shamal – a Qatar Stars League side – to finalise the transfer.

The situation has raised questions over whether the current system could weaken the Saudi Pro League’s ability to attract experienced internationals when rival Gulf leagues are prepared to pay closer to selling clubs’ expectations.

Arab Cup hero moves to Qatar

Harimatte’s capture is a notable coup for Al Shamal. The midfielder was one of the key figures in Morocco’s successful 2025 Arab Cup campaign in Qatar, a tournament they went on to win.

He impressed throughout the competition with his performances in the centre of the pitch, and his displays were recognised when he was named the tournament’s best player.

At club level, Harimatte had been an important player for Moroccan giants FAR Rabat, also known as AS FAR, before securing his move to Qatar this summer.

His switch underlines the growing competition for talent between Gulf leagues, with the Qatar Stars League and Saudi Pro League both investing heavily but operating under different regulatory structures.

Pressure for change in Saudi transfer system

The Harimatte case is likely to add momentum to calls from some Saudi clubs for reforms to the recruitment committee’s mandate, particularly around its power to dictate player valuations.

Clubs pushing for change are expected to argue that, in a competitive international market, rigid central valuations risk costing the league high-profile signings – and strengthening regional rivals instead.

For now, Harimatte will continue his career in Qatar rather than Saudi Arabia, despite once being on the brink of a move to Ettifaq, in a transfer saga that has put the Saudi Pro League’s recruitment model firmly under the spotlight.