In a huge financial deal… Naif Akrad is about to join a new team

Moroccan international centre-back Nayef Akrad is slowly moving closer to leaving his English side, West Ham United, and moving to the Saudi Professional League in a huge financial deal, according to media reports on Saturday (August 17).

Saudi Professional League clubs, backed by the Public Investment Fund, continue to attract influential deals from English Premier League clubs, this time bringing Kurd into the Saudi competition in the current 2024-25 football season.

West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui has left out Naif Akrad from the Hammers’ Premier League opener on Saturday, a strong indication that the player is set to leave for the Rushen League.

According to British platform TEAMtalk, defender Kelman’s departure to West Ham means Nayef Akrad’s future with the team is over, while the Moroccan player has been left out of the squad for the game against Aston Villa, and it looks like he is on his way to the Roshen League.

Media sources close to West Ham circles have said that the club have set the sale price for Naif Akrad at no less than €30 million, just €5 million less than the amount committed to the Hammers’ coffers when they bought the French player from Rennes two years ago.

The reports also did not specify the identity of the Saudi team interested in Akrad’s inclusion, and it is believed to be the Jeddah club, who lost their Egyptian star Ahmed Hegazy to rival club NEOM in the Saudi second division, as the Tigers have not yet signed a compensation agreement.

Akrad has a contract with West Ham United that runs until the summer of 2027, and his market value is around 35 million euros, as he is the third most expensive Moroccan professional footballer, after Achraf Hakimi (60 million euros) and Ibrahim Diaz (40 million euros).