Transfer Tango: Nassr distances itself from Hamdan deal amid heated Saudi window
14 January 2026
Transfer twist in Riyadh
Nassr disavows signing Abdullah Al-Hamdan, the long-time rival Al-Hilal's striker, amid the current winter transfer window.
Reports said Hamdan already signed a contract as a new Nassr player, with CEO Jose Semedo, as his deal with Al-Hilal ends in February.
Official stance and potential consequences
But the Saudi newspaper Al-Yom confirmed Nassr disavowed the contract, via a letter sent to the Saudi football federation's professionalism committee.
The letter stated Semedo no longer holds CEO powers enabling him to sign with a Hilal striker, so the signing was rejected and the deal not completed.
Hamdan's contract with Al-Hilal runs until February 6, three days after the winter window closes, yet he tries to win the bosses' permission to leave this month.
Legal expert Yaqub Al-Mutair said Semedo's signature on Hamdan's contract would bind him, give Hamdan the right to file a complaint, and potentially block Nassr's future signings.
Hamdan has been with Al-Hilal since 2021, but he has not secured a starting spot, featuring 144 matches, 13 goals and 10 assists.
Punchline 1: If transfers were bullets, this one never left the chamber—the rumor mill did the shooting and missed.
Punchline 2: In football as in espionage, the sharpest thing in this saga is the deadline—the press box is the real marksman.
