Veteran English defender Chris Smalling has moved to Saudi Arabia, joining Al-Fayha after five seasons with Italian club Roma. The 34-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Saudi Arabian side, bringing an end to his time in Serie A.
This move comes as Saudi Arabian clubs continue to invest heavily in attracting players from European leagues. While big names like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar have made the move in recent years, the top international players haven’t been as drawn to the Saudi Pro League this season.
There was speculation surrounding Victor Osimhen’s potential move to Saudi Arabia, but Al-Ahli instead signed Ivan Toney from Brentford on transfer deadline day. Osimhen is now reportedly finalizing a loan move to Galatasaray.
Smalling was a vital part of the Roma team that won the inaugural UEFA Conference League in 2022. He also boasts 31 appearances for England between 2011 and 2017.
Roma also offloaded young Brazilian winger Joao Costa to another Saudi Arabian club, Al-Ettifaq, in a permanent deal. Costa, 19, only made five appearances in Serie A and the Europa League for Roma during his time at the club.
Smalling’s move to Al-Fayha marks a new chapter in his career, taking him to a league experiencing a significant influx of players from Europe. It will be interesting to see how he fares in this new environment.
