Togolese international Khaled Narey seals Al Okhdood move

Khaled Narey has completed a return to the Saudi Pro League after signing for Al Okhdood, ending his spell with Al Ula where he helped guide the club to promotion to the Saudi First Division League.

The 31-year-old Togolese international, who was unveiled by Al Okhdood on 7 September, brings top-flight experience back to Najran after spending eight months in a lower division.

His signing represents a fresh attempt by the club, currently 16th in the table, to stabilise their position in a league dominated by giants such as Al Hilal and Al Nassr.

Narey’s switch also marks a continuation of a varied career across Europe and the Middle East.

Born in Neuwied, Germany, to Togolese parents, he progressed through the academies of Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund before moving into senior football in Germany.

His domestic career saw him represent Paderborn, Greuther Fürth, Hamburg SV and Fortuna Düsseldorf, where he became known for his pace, adaptability and ability to feature both as a winger and as a right-back.

In 2022, Narey took his career abroad for the first time with Greek side PAOK Salonika before moving to the Gulf region to join Al Khaleej in 2023.

His time there included strong performances that underlined his value in the Saudi Pro League.

A surprise step down to Al Ula followed, but his influence proved decisive, as he played a pivotal role in their successful promotion push.

Al Okhdood, promoted to the Pro League in 2023, have struggled to find consistent form, and Narey’s arrival is seen as a statement of intent to bring stability.

The club hopes his wealth of experience across competitive European leagues and his proven leadership qualities will make an immediate impact in their fight against relegation.

Narey has been capped by Togo since November 2023, and his return to the top tier could strengthen his international prospects.

With a market value of €2.5m, according to Transfermarkt, his performances at Al Okhdood will be closely monitored as Togo prepare for the final rounds of World Cup qualifiers.

The forward now faces the challenge of replicating his past successes in a league that continues to grow in stature and competitiveness.

For Al Okhdood, his signing represents both ambition and necessity as they seek to ensure survival among the Saudi elite.