Key signings to compete with Saudi Arabia's elite

After getting promoted to the Saudi Pro League in 2023/24, Al-Qadsiah FC had big ambitions to challenge at the top of the biggest league in Saudi Arabia.

But first they had to sign 16 new players following promotion, to not only be competitive but add the international quality capable of challenging the likes of champions Al Hilal SFC, featuring Neymar Junior and Aleksandar Mitrovic, Al-Nassr FC with Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané and an Al-Ittihad Club team featuring Karim Benzema and Fabinho.

Al-Qadsiah FC and Chief Scout Alvaro Rius turned to TransferRoom in 2024.

TransferRoom is football’s only transfer marketplace, with an online platform that provides direct access to decision-makers at over 800 clubs and 550 Trusted Agencies, plus real-time market intelligence, player availability and club requirements.

And TransferRoom also hosts numerous in-person events each year, in which 100s of club decision-makers and a selection of top agents meet for one-to-one meetings and exclusive networking to help facilitate deals and build connections.

They made two big-value central midfield signings with the help of TransferRoom in the summer of 2024 as a result: Ezequiel Fernández from Argentinian giants Boca Juniors for €18.7million and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise’s Cameron Puertas for €15.0M.

Fernández and Puertas deals explained

For Fernández, Rius initiated negotiations with the defensive midfielder’s agent, Hernan Berman, at March 2024’s TransferRoom Summit in Rome.

Berman is a member of TransferRoom as a verified Trusted Agent and the owner of his own agency, with Fernández the highest-valued of nearly 50 players in his portfolio.

“We follow a lot of leagues,” Rius said. “In Argentina, we have a Scout there. We had, in that moment, Equi [Ezequiel Fernández] as the best target for us.

“I saw Hernan Berman, his agent, in Rome at the TransferRoom Summit. It was a really difficult deal because Boca didn't want to release him. It’s a long story, but it starts with TransferRoom in Rome.”

Rius brought in Puertas to partner Fernández and bring creative flair as well as tenacity in central midfield, and declaring interest in the player on TransferRoom, and that combined with networking outside of the platform facilitated contact with the midfielder’s agent.

“Regarding Cameron Puertas, we declared interest on TransferRoom and at the same time we started to talk with the agent. 

“So in the end, we reached an agreement with the club, and it was a mix. We used TransferRoom, we also used our networking to arrive at the agent.”

Al-Qadsiah FC became the second Saudi Pro League club to join TransferRoom, following the arrival of Al-Fateh SC.

Clubs, join Al-Qadsiah FC and over 800 other clubs on TransferRoom and accelerate your success in the transfer market by clicking here.

Agents, gain direct access to the decision-makers at over 800 clubs worldwide and get the best deals by becoming a TransferRoom Trusted Agent here.