Big Guns in the Saudi Saga: Can Al Ittihad Snatch Murad Housaoui from Al Hilal?
1 November 2025
Who is Murad Housaoui?
Murad Housaoui is a 24-year-old midfielder who developed in the youth ranks of a local club before breaking into first teams in 2022. He joined Al Khaleej on a permanent basis after a successful loan spell, and this season he has appeared eight times—six in the league and two in cup matches—scoring once and contributing two assists.
The young talent’s solid performances have raised interest from big clubs in the Saudi League, especially given his versatility in the middle of the park and his growing influence in Gulf football since the start of this season.
Price Tag and Transfer Talks
According to reports in the Saudi press, Al Khaleej are ready to field a substantial asking price to part with Housaoui in the upcoming winter window. The newspaper Al Yaom (Today) cited a minimum figure of 100 million riyals for the midfielder who is contracted with Al Khaleej through 2029, a duration that underscores why a move would be tricky and costly for suitors.
The club argues that losing the player mid-season would be difficult to replace and could affect their balance, especially as Housaoui has become a fixture in the squad this year.
New Midfield Contenders and Club Plans
Al Hilal, the traditional rival of Al Ittihad, has shown a keen interest in bringing Housaoui to their controls. Al Khaleej would prefer any negotiations to be conducted directly between the clubs, a stance that could lengthen the process but keeps things orderly in a league where every matchday matters.
In parallel, Al Hilal are shaping their midfield options. The squad currently features a mix of foreign and local talent, including high-profile names who have extended contracts recently, as they look to compete on multiple fronts, including the King Cup and the league title this season.
Housaoui’s continued rise would add depth to a midfield that already includes a blend of experience and youth, a combination that teams in any era would envy. Whether the deal lands or not, the conversation itself signals a high-stakes chapter in Saudi football transfers this season.
There’s also a broader context: the Gulf is hungry for talent, with clubs pushing to secure promising players before the window closes and to maintain momentum for league campaigns and cup runs. The Gulf region’s transfer market is heating up, and Murad Housaoui is a focal point of that heat.
And for the fans, there’s the practical side: a potential move would affect squad balance, wage structures, and the path to domestic success in a league that keeps proving it punches above its weight on the continental stage.
Punchlines: If this transfer drags any longer, the window will start charging rent. And Murad’s price tag is so shiny, even the referee might need a small loan just to stay in the conversation.
