Well-informed sources have revealed significant developments regarding the future of international defender Waleed Al-Ahmad, star of Al-Taawoun FC. His final decision to stay or leave during the current summer transfer window remains shrouded in uncertainty. Reports indicate that the Al-Taawoun management has clearly defined its position, setting unprecedented financial conditions for approving the player's sale, potentially paving the way for a historic transfer in Saudi football.
A standard financial ceiling that reflects the player's value
According to reports, Al-Taawoun's management aims to make Waleed Al-Ahmad's transfer the most expensive in the history of Saudi defenders, setting a price tag of nearly 70 million Saudi riyals for his transfer. This enormous sum not only reflects the player's considerable technical ability but also represents the club's strategy of maximizing financial gain to strengthen the team and reinvest the proceeds in developing its sporting infrastructure.
Background: A thriving Saudi transfer market
This high financial valuation comes amidst the significant transformation underway in the Saudi Professional League. With the influx of investments from the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the backing of major companies for clubs, the market value of local players has risen considerably. Competition for top Saudi talent has become as fierce as for international stars, driving up the value of contracts for outstanding local players. Hassan Tambakti's transfer from Al-Shabab to Al-Hilal last summer was a clear indication of this trend, and it appears that Al-Ahmad's transfer may follow the same path, potentially setting a new record.
The importance of the deal for the competing clubs
Waleed Al-Ahmad (25 years old) is considered one of the most prominent defenders in Saudi football today, having delivered consistent and outstanding performances with Al-Taawoun, making him a target for top clubs. The interest from Al-Ittihad, the 2022-2023 league champions, comes as a strategic move to bolster their defense, which faced some challenges last season. Al-Ittihad, nicknamed "The Dean," aims to build a strong team capable of competing fiercely for all domestic and continental titles, and Al-Ahmad is seen as a potential key component of this ambitious project.
Al-Qadisiyah enters the negotiations forcefully
Interest wasn't limited to Al-Ittihad; Al-Qadisiyah, recently promoted to the Saudi Professional League and backed by Aramco, also entered the negotiations aggressively. Al-Qadisiyah's strong entry demonstrates the club's ambitious goals of building a team capable of competing with the top clubs from its very first season, intensifying the competition for the player's signature and raising Al-Taawoun's financial demands. This two-way battle between a club with a large fan base and a rising star with immense financial resources adds further drama to the player's future.
Ultimately, Waleed Al-Ahmad's future has become one of the most prominent issues in the Saudi transfer market this summer. Between Al-Taawoun's desire to secure a record-breaking deal, Al-Ittihad's ambitions to bolster their defense, and Al-Qadisiyah's emergence as a strong contender, fans eagerly await the official developments in the coming days, which could potentially lead to the most expensive transfer of a Saudi defender in the league's history.
