FIFA announced that Al-Nassr, a Saudi Pro League club, has been prohibited from adding new players due to unpaid debts.
The Saudi club, who secured the second position in the league last season and recently acquired Marcelo Brozovic from Inter Milan, had previously signed Cristiano Ronaldo in January.
“The club Al-Nassr is currently prevented from registering new players due to outstanding debts,” a FIFA spokesperson told Reuters on Thursday.
“The relevant bans will be lifted immediately upon the settlement of the debts being confirmed by the creditors concerned.”
Reports indicate that the outstanding debts are connected to the transfer of Nigerian forward Ahmed Musa, who moved from Leicester City to Al-Nassr in 2018. In October 2021, FIFA ruled that the club still owed Leicester a sum of 460,000 euros ($513,544) for Musa’s signing. Musa played 62 games for Al-Nassr, scoring 14 goals, before departing in 2020.
Recently, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced a Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project involving the league champions Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr, and Al-Hilal.
PIF owns 75% of each of these four clubs, while their respective non-profit foundations own the remaining 25%.
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