The Saudi Pro League are on the brink of pulling off one of their biggest transfer coups so far as Al Ahli have agreed a deal to sign Spanish sensation Gabri Veiga, sources have confirmed to 90min.
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has emerged as one of Europe's most in-demand young talents and a host of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle, have showed interest and held talks at various points.
Serie A holders Napoli appeared to be the favourites to complete the signing of Veiga but complications over the player's image rights held proceedings up. And although Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis continued talks with Veiga's agent, Pini Zahavi, terms were also being brokered in the background with Al Ahli.
90min now understands that the young Spaniard has agreed to move to the Saudi Pro League, with head coach Matthias Jaissle, formerly of Red Bull Salzburg, playing a major in persuading him to move to the Middle East.
Veiga's arrival is a major boost for the Saudi Pro League as they attempt to lure some of the game's brightest young prospects to the country. His signing will also be another feather in the cap of Al Ahli, who have already flexed their sizeable financial muscle in the transfer window.
Edouard Mendy, Merih Demiral, Roger Ibanez, Franck Kessie, Allan Saint-Maximin, Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino have joined from some of European football's biggest clubs, and there's now an expectation that Al Ahli, who are one of four Saudi clubs financed by PIF, will challenge Al Nassr and Al Ittihad for the league title.
Their Saudi Pro League campaign has got off to the perfect start, with two wins from two games yielding six goals already.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Gabri Veiga shuns Napoli to head for Saudi Pro League.
