© ProShots
Karim Rekik is about to exchange Seville for Al-Ettifaq, Fabrizio Romano reports. The clubs are almost in agreement and the 28-year-old central defender is also almost personally around with the Saudi club. The medical examination has already been scheduled, according to the transfer market expert. Rekik still has a contract with Sevilla until mid-2025, with which he won the Europa League last season.
At Al-Ettifaq, Rekik will play under Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard. The 114-time former England international was presented in early July as the new coach of the Saudi club, which finished tenth last season. Rekik could be Al-Ettifaq’s first summer signing. It is unknown how high the transfer fee is for the four-time international of the Dutch national team.
Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson is one of the players who, alongside Rekik, has been strongly linked with a move to Al-Ettifaq. According to English media, the English international can earn a mega salary of about forty million a year in Saudi Arabia. Liverpool are reportedly seeking more than €10 million from Al-Ettifaq for his captain, who is under contract with The Reds until mid-2025.
Article continues below the video
Rekik will not be the only Dutchman employed by Al-Ettifaq, as Eelco Schattorie holds the position of technical director at the club. Schattorie shed light on developments in Saudi football. “It is now a hype, you can see that. I try to close myself off from that as much as possible,” said the technical director in an interview with De Limburger. “Such high amounts, that is crazy. A lot is also sensation, issues of the day.”
The transfers of Rekik and Henderson cannot be done just like that. Schattorie indicates that not a lot of money can be deposited for every player. “There are players who smell money, but I don’t want them,” said the technical director. “A committee of the football association also looks at transfers, to see if someone is of added value to the competition. They really want to take football up.”
Rekik played in Feyenoord’s youth academy from 2002 to 2011, which he then exchanged for Manchester City. It did not come to a breakthrough at the English top club and Rekik was rented out to three different clubs. Between 2013 and 2015 he played on a rental basis for PSV, after which he was sold to Olympique Marseille for five million euros. Via Hertha BSC, he settled at Seville in the summer of 2020. Rekik currently represents an Expected Transfer Value (xTV) of EUR 5.1 million.
