Étoile Sportive du Sahel have turned down a first official offer from Saudi Arabian club Al Riadh for highly rated teenage goalkeeper Anas Khardani, sources close to the club have confirmed.
The 19-year-old, who has emerged as one of the standout performers in the Tunisian top flight this season, is drawing growing attention as the transfer window gathers pace.
Al Riadh are said to have tabled an opening bid worth $300,000, a figure swiftly rejected by Étoile du Sahel, who believe the offer significantly undervalues their rising star.
Khardani made 19 appearances during the 2023–24 campaign, impressing with his composure, agility, and leadership from the back. With Étoile set to feature in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup, the club are reluctant to part ways with a player seen as integral to their continental ambitions.
According to internal sources, the Tunisian club have placed a $500,000 valuation on their goalkeeper and are standing firm on that figure before entering into any serious negotiations.
The stance underlines the esteem in which Khardani is held at the club and their determination to retain a player widely tipped to be a long-term fixture for both club and country.
Khardani, who began the season as a relative unknown, has seen his profile rise sharply in recent months. Scouts from several regional and European teams have reportedly been tracking his progress.
While Al Riadh were the first to make a formal approach, their offer falls short of both the club’s expectations and Khardani’s current market value, which Transfermarkt estimates at €350,000.
Étoile Sportive du Sahel remain committed to nurturing their homegrown talent and are not under immediate financial pressure to sell. The club has made it clear that any potential deal must reflect the player’s age, potential, and impact on the squad.
Khardani, meanwhile, has stayed focused on his football, with no public comment made on the transfer speculation surrounding his future.
This isn’t the first time Étoile have found themselves in a firm negotiating stance over a rising talent. Known for developing promising players, the Sousse-based club has built a reputation for standing firm when it comes to the market value of its academy products.
Khardani’s emergence comes at a time when Tunisian football is increasingly producing elite-level goalkeepers, with clubs across Africa and the Middle East keen to tap into the North African talent pool.
Whether Al Riadh return with an improved offer remains to be seen, but it is clear they will need to meet Étoile’s demands if they wish to bring the young Tunisian shot-stopper to Saudi Arabia.
For now, Khardani remains a key figure for Étoile Sportive du Sahel as they prepare for their upcoming domestic and continental campaigns, with the club hoping to build on last season’s solid performances and push for silverware on multiple fronts.
