Futures in the Balance: Four Foreign Stars Face the Saudi Club's May Budget Test
2 April 2026
One of them is Egyptian... what's in store for these players at season's end?
The management of a Saudi club announced a decision about the futures of several foreign players, sparking a wave of speculation and opening the door to multiple scenarios.
According to the Saudi daily Al-Riyadiya, the management of Al-Ettifaq decided to delay its final decision on the futures of some of its foreign players, illustrating how unsettled the squad remains heading toward May.
Developments
The paper noted that Ettifaq’s leadership chose to pause until May to wait for a clearer picture of the club’s financial budget for the upcoming season, while fully adhering to financial sustainability rules and keeping a close eye on every cent.
At the end of this season, four notable foreign players are set to depart or renew: Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum, Egyptian Ahmed Hassan Kouka, Scottish Jack Hendry, and Colombian Francisco Calvo.
The paper also noted Wijnaldum remains the leading renewal candidate and the only name actively discussed for a contract extension today, while Kouka’s continuation looks highly uncertain due to the coach’s doubts about his form and recurring injuries affecting his season.
Wijnaldum appeared in 11 matches in the Saudi Pro League this season, missing 16 games, totaling 575 minutes, scoring one goal and providing no assists.
In contrast, Wijnaldum delivered a strong season, featuring 25 appearances with 12 goals and 5 assists, while Hendry appeared 26 times, and Calvo played 24 matches scoring 3 goals and 3 assists across all competitions.
Performance Snapshot
Note to clubs everywhere: budget discipline and on-field drama make for a perfect January sequel.
And if patience were a player, the contract would still be negotiating in May, perhaps with a cameo by the transfer window referee.
