Salary Storm Clouds Wijnaldum’s Future with Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League
19 February 2026
Saudi Pro League could lose one of its top stars.
The former Liverpool star is edging toward a departure from the Roshen Saudi League this coming summer, due to the staggering salary he earns.
Saudi daily Al-Yawm reports that Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, currently with Al-Ettifaq, may leave at the end of his contract, which runs through the current season.
The club had even agreed to a renewal for a further term, but activation hinges on the Sustainability Committee because of the heavy wage.
Wijnaldum is paid 9 million euros per year, roughly 75% of Ettifaq's entire budget, meaning sustaining the deal would require committee approval.
If the issue isn't resolved, the 35-year-old could part ways with the side after three seasons, having joined from Paris Saint‑Germain in the summer of 2023.
In 88 appearances for Ettifaq, he has tallied 33 goals and 14 assists.
The saga underscores the salary-balance tension shaping the Saudi Pro League as it attracts top talent from Europe.
Punchline 1: If salaries counted as goals, Wijnaldum would be the league’s all-time top scorer—talk about a pricey finish.
Punchline 2: The only thing bigger than his contract is the paperwork; apparently budget meetings have their own dramatic soundtrack.
