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September 2, 2024

Al Ghamdi and Al Sahafi Finalize Loan Moves to Europe – Saudi Pro League

Al Ittihad has sent Faisal Al Ghamdi and Marwan Al Sahafi on loan to Belgian club Beerschot for the entire 2024-25 season. This move sees the Saudi players join Beerschot as they look to make an impact in the Belgian Pro League. The loan deal reflects Al Ittihad’s strategy to provide their young talents with valuable international experience and playing time in a competitive European league.

Saudi Arabian internationals Faisal Al Ghamdi and Marwan Al Sahafi will join the Belgian Pro League side Beerschot for the upcoming season. Their move marks them as the latest players from the Roshn Saudi League to transition to European football. This shift follows the recent permanent transfer of Saud Abdulhamid from Al Hilal to AS Roma, highlighting a growing trend of Saudi talent making their mark in top European leagues. This trend underscores the increasing global recognition of the quality of players emerging from the Roshn Saudi League.

In a statement issued on Sunday night, the 2022-23 Roshn Saudi League champions announced: “Al Ittihad Club has agreed to loan players Faisal Al Ghamdi and Marwan Al Sahafi to Belgian club Beerschot for one season.

“This move aligns with the programs and strategies aimed at developing young talent and supporting their growth, which will positively impact their performance and serve the future goals of both the club and Saudi sports.”

At 23, Al Ghamdi made his RSL debut for Al Ettifaq in May 2022 and made 30 league appearances for the Dammam side. He joined Al Ittihad in September of the previous year, where he played 18 times in the 2023-24 RSL season and scored once. He was recognized as the league’s Young Player of the Month in November.

Al Ghamdi received his first senior national team call-up in January of the previous year for the Arabian Gulf Cup in Iraq. A year later, he was part of Roberto Mancini’s squad at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, scoring in the group stage match against Kyrgyz Republic.

Meanwhile, Al Sahafi began his professional career with his boyhood club, Al Ittihad, making his debut in October 2022. Since then, he has made 27 appearances in the Roshn Saudi League (RSL), netting two goals. Despite his youth, at just 20 years old, he has quickly established himself as a promising talent.

In addition to his club achievements, Al Sahafi earned his first international cap in June. He was introduced as a second-half substitute during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Pakistan in Islamabad, marking an important milestone in his budding international career.

At Beerschot, the Saudi duo joins a club that secured promotion to the Belgian top flight last season by winning the second-tier Challenger Pro League. Located in Antwerp, Beerschot last played in the top division during the 2021-22 season. The team is currently managed by Dirk Kuyt, the former forward renowned for his stints with Feyenoord, Liverpool, Fenerbahçe, and the Netherlands national team.

In a statement made last week, the Dutchman said: “When we got the opportunity to follow Saudi talent in the Roshn [Pro] League, we searched for distinguished players and chose Faisal Al Ghamdi and Marwan Al Sahafi after we asked some European players about them and the opinions were positive.

“We are a team that wants to possess the ball, and they will help in implementing that… I spoke with them during Zoom before they arrived in Belgium, and I explained to them our future plans and what we intend to do together.

“They are very enthusiastic, and I am trying to benefit from the Dutch system that is concerned with developing young people to show their quality.”

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