Serie A club AS Roma has secured the services of Saudi Arabian international right-back Saud Abdulhamid from Al-Hilal of the Saudi Pro League. The permanent transfer is valued at €2.5 million, with potential add-ons that could increase the total fee to €3 million.
According to renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano, Abdulhamid is expected to arrive in Rome on Monday to undergo a medical examination before officially joining the Giallorossi. If the deal is finalized, Abdulhamid will become the first Saudi Arabian player to compete in Serie A.
The 25-year-old defender has represented Saudi Arabia on 26 occasions at the senior international level, including at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He played a pivotal role in Saudi Arabia’s historic 2-1 upset victory over eventual champions Argentina during the tournament.
Meanwhile, Al-Hilal is reportedly eyeing Manchester City’s out-of-favor full-back Joao Cancelo as a potential replacement for Abdulhamid. The Saudi club is keen to strengthen its squad with a high-profile signing to fill the void left by the departing defender.