July 12, (THEWILL) – Saudi Arabian Pro League club, Al-Nassr, has been banned from registering new players by the world football governing body, FIFA.
This is in response to Al-Nassr’s failure to fulfil their financial obligations towards former English Premier League champions, Leicester City. The dispute stems from the transfer of Nigerian forward, Ahmed Musa, who joined Leicester in 2016 but struggled to make an impact. After being loaned back to his former club, Musa was eventually sold to Al-Nassr for a reported fee of £14m in 2018.
FIFA’s official ruling states that Al-Nassr has not paid £390k plus interest in performance-related add-ons, leading to the transfer ban. The ruling, which was originally issued in October 2021, warned Al-Nassr that a transfer registration ban would be imposed if they failed to settle the outstanding amount owed to Leicester. It appears that Al-Nassr has not complied with the ruling, resulting in the registration ban being enforced. This ban affects both domestic and international transfers, thereby preventing the club from registering star players from abroad.
The repercussions of this development could have significant implications for Al-Nassr’s future recruitment plans and their competitiveness in the Saudi Arabian Pro League. Musa, who is the focal point of the initial dispute, has had a remarkable career but experienced a lacklustre season in the 2022/2023 campaign. The decline of the Nigerian forward, who scored only five goals in 33 appearances for Leicester, continued as he failed to find the net or provide any assists while playing for Sivasspor in Turkey.
Musa’s shortfall in form and limited playing time may have contributed to Al-Nassr’s decision not to extend his contract, resulting in the player becoming a free agent. It remains to be seen how Musa’s future will unfold in light of these recent developments, as well as the consequences for Al-Nassr’s squad composition and their ability to compete effectively in domestic and international competitions.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
