Saudi Pro League: A saudi club in pursuit of Kevin De Bruyne
Rather discreet since the opening of the summer transfer window, Saudi Arabia is quietly advancing its pieces. While the Gulf country has reached an agreement with Kevin De Bruyne, another Premier League star could soon follow suit.
Eager to be considered the new powerhouse in the world of football, Saudi Arabia was very active during the last summer transfer window. By spending millions and offering astronomical salaries, it secured the services of numerous stars seeking a comeback or a final challenge in their career, such as Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté, Marcelo Brozovic, and Sadio Mané.
Since the opening of this new summer session, Saudi Arabia has been advancing its pieces cautiously, seemingly targeting the north of England, specifically Manchester, for its future acquisitions.
Courted for many months by the Saudis, Kevin De Bruyne is at a crossroads in his career. After winning everything with Manchester City, the Skyblues’ playmaker’s contract expires in June 2025.
Thus, the possibility of leaving Manchester City, after a season marred by injuries, has resurfaced. When questioned on the matter by the Belgian press, the Red Devils’ star spoke openly about this possibility. “At my age, you have to be open to everything. You’re talking about incredible sums for what could be the end of my career. Sometimes, you have to consider it. If I play there for two years, I could earn an incredible amount. Before that, I had to play football for 15 years. I might not even have reached that amount yet”, he admitted to the media.
But just after Kevin De Bruyne’s elimination from Euro 2024 with Belgium, the 33-year-old international (105 caps, 28 goals) seems to have finally decided on his future. According to information reported by SPORT, the midfielder has ultimately agreed to join the Middle East this summer and has reached an agreement with Al-Ittihad.
Fifth in the Saudi Pro League last season, the Jeddah-based club did not achieve the expected results at the start of the season and has already made changes by announcing the departure of Marcelo Gallardo. Eager to reclaim the top of the championship, Al-Ittihad intends to carry out an ambitious transfer window where Kevin De Bruyne would be a prestigious first recruit.
