Al Nassr receive financial clearance but transfer restrictions still in place

Al Nassr have secured a crucial financial clearance certificate that allows them to register new signings this summer, but the Saudi Pro League champions remain subject to strict spending restrictions for the time being.

The Riyadh club had been unable to complete any transfer business in the current window after reports of a major financial crisis left them operating under tight controls before any deals could be approved.

According to Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah on Friday, Al Nassr have now obtained the required financial efficiency certificate, a key regulatory step that permits clubs to enter into new contracts and register players during the transfer period.

However, the report adds that the financial restrictions imposed on Al Nassr have not yet been fully lifted. The club is hopeful those constraints will be eased within hours, which it believes would pave the way for new signings to be finalised.

Under Saudi Pro League regulations, the financial efficiency certificate enables Al Nassr to complete ongoing transfer negotiations and extend existing player contracts, but only once the Financial Control Committee, which operates under the umbrella of the Saudi Pro League, issues its final approval on each commitment.

Samu Costa deal awaited as first summer signing

Al Nassr supporters are now waiting for confirmation of the club’s first signing of the summer, with Portuguese midfielder Samu Costa expected to arrive from Real Mallorca.

The proposed deal for Samu Costa is understood to be worth €9m, and Al Nassr intend for the 23-year-old to be the opening addition to their squad once the remaining financial procedures are cleared.

The club’s hierarchy are planning further reinforcements after resolving the immediate regulatory hurdle, with the objective of strengthening the squad across multiple positions ahead of a demanding season.

Domestic and continental ambitions

Al Nassr’s transfer strategy is being shaped by a series of ambitious targets on both domestic and continental fronts.

The club are aiming to retain their title in the Saudi Pro League, known commercially as the Roshn Saudi League, and are also prioritising a first-ever triumph in the AFC Champions League Elite, the revamped top-tier Asian club competition.

In addition, Al Nassr intend to compete strongly for the King’s Cup, officially the King Cup (Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup), as they look to translate their recent domestic momentum into sustained success across all tournaments.

The resolution of the immediate financial certification issue is seen inside the club as a key step towards those aims, but the final decision of the Financial Control Committee on the remaining restrictions will determine how quickly Al Nassr can move in the market and how extensively they can reshape their squad in the closing stages of the summer window.