On Monday evening, all eyes in Saudi football will be on Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam for the highly anticipated "Eastern Derby" between Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Ettifaq, a rescheduled match from the tenth round of the Saudi Professional League. This encounter transcends the mere competition for three points, representing a clash between two distinct sporting projects, a fact clearly reflected in the astronomical market values of both clubs.
Al-Qadisiyah's overwhelming financial superiority
Al-Qadisiyah, newly promoted to the top flight, enters the match with a significant financial advantage. According to Transfermarkt, a platform specializing in football statistics, the total market value of Al-Qadisiyah is approximately €119.73 million. This figure not only places them at the forefront of clubs in the Eastern Province but also makes them strong contenders across the entire league. In contrast, their traditional rival, Al-Ettifaq, has a market value of €31.68 million, revealing a vast difference of nearly four times that amount and reflecting the scale of investment injected by Saudi Aramco following its acquisition of the club.
Historical background of the Eastern Derby and sports investment
The Eastern Province derby is one of the oldest derbies in the Kingdom, pitting two giants from the cities of Khobar and Dammam against each other. Historically, the matches were characterized by fierce competition and parity, but recent transformations in the Saudi sports landscape, driven by the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the investment and privatization project for sports clubs, have shifted the balance of power. Al-Qadisiyah has directly benefited from this project, enabling it to attract international stars with high market values, while Al-Ettifaq, under the leadership of English coach Steven Gerrard, is striving to build a competitive team based on a blend of foreign experience and local talent.
Al-Qadisiyah's most valuable stars
The most expensive player in Al-Qadisiyah's ranks, and indeed in the match as a whole, is Italian professional Matteo Rettigny, whose market value alone is estimated at €40 million, a figure exceeding the total value of the entire Al-Ettifaq team. He is followed by a constellation of international stars who bolster the team's strength, most notably:
- Ottavio: 12 million euros
- Julian Quiñones: 12 million euros
- Gabriel Carvalho: 12 million euros
- Christopher Ponsot-Baha: 10 million euros
- Gaston Alvarez: 8 million euros
Al-Ettifaq Stars List
On the other hand, French striker Moussa Dembélé tops the list of Al-Ettifaq's most valuable players at €7.5 million. Despite the significant difference, the team boasts prominent names with experience in European leagues, such as Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum, in addition to other players who form the backbone of the team
- Alvaro Medran: 3.5 million euros
- Ondrej Duda: 3.2 million euros
- Marek Rodak: 2.8 million euros
- Georginio Wijnaldum: 2.5 million euros
- Jack Hendry: 2.5 million euros
Will money decide the Eastern Derby?
Al-Qadisiyah's superiority isn't limited to market value; it extends to the league standings, where they occupy fourth place with 50 points, while Al-Ettifaq sits in seventh with 38 points. However, derby matches defy all theoretical calculations, as fan passion, history, and tactics play a decisive role that can overturn expectations. This match will be a true test of whether financial power can prevail, or if the spirit of the derby will have the final say.
