FIFA World Cup champion with Argentina, Paulo Dybala has agreed to move
to Saudi Arabia, leaving AS Roma to join Al-Qadsiah, a team recently
promoted to the Saudi Pro League. The Asian club will pay 15 million
euros for his transfer, and Dybala will sign a three-year contract.
The 30-year-old attacking midfielder arrived in Italy in 2012 to join
Palermo. Three seasons later, he moved to Juventus, where he played for
seven seasons, won multiple titles, and was farewell as a hero in 2022.
He spent the last two seasons with Roma, and now in 2024, he decided to
move to the Saudi club, which recently signed another argentinian too:
Equi Fernández.
Al-Qadsiah is purchasing him from Roma for 15 million euros as the
12-million-euro release clause expired on July 31. Initially, they
offered Dybala a four-year contract, but it will now be for three years,
and he will earn around 60 million euros.
The History of Al-Qadsiah, Paulo Dybala’s New Team
The club, based in Al Khobar, was founded in 1967. Among its notable
achievements, it won the Crown Prince Cup (1992), the Saudi Federation
Cup (1994), and the AFC Cup Winners’ Cup (1993/94). Currently, the team
plays its home games at the Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium, which has a
capacity of 20,000.
The institution, recognized as the largest in the eastern region of the
country, is owned by Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, which is
state-owned by Saudi Arabia. Similarly to Al Hilal with Neymar, Al Nassr
with Cristiano Ronaldo, and Al Ittihad with Karim Benzema, the club has
been transferred to the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Spanish coach Michel González, who has been in charge since October
2023, led Al-Qadsiah to promotion to the Saudi Pro League. The team
previously included argentinian Luciano Vietto (who became a free agent
this transfer window) and has recently strengthened with major signings:
Equi Fernández, Nacho (one of the most decorated players in Real
Madrid’s history), uruguayan Nahitan Nández, and french Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang. Now, they add Dybala to their roster.
(Source: TyC Sports)
