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Nigerian winger Sani leaves RB Leipzig for Al-Qadsiah in €8m deal
Nigerian winger Suleman Sani has completed a surprise move from RB Leipzig to Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah in a deal worth up to €8m.
The transfer brings an end to the 20-year-old’s brief spell in the Bundesliga, during which he did not make a single competitive appearance for Leipzig.
Sani joined the German club from Slovakian side AS Trencin in January 2026 after establishing himself as one of the most promising young wingers in European football. Just six months later, he has moved on to Saudi Arabia.
Reports from Sky, cited by Bild, say the deal could rise to €8m. The transfer was completed on Sunday, 6 September, the final day of the Saudi Arabian transfer window.
Sani is expected to sign a three-year contract with Al-Qadsiah, with the option of a further season.
The move offers the Nigeria youth international an opportunity to secure regular senior football after injuries and fierce competition for places prevented him from making his first-team debut at Leipzig.
From Akwa United to Germany
Sani began his senior career with Nigerian club Akwa United before moving to AS Trencin in September 2024.
He adapted quickly to European football and ended his time in Slovakia with 16 goals and seven assists in 59 competitive matches.
Those performances persuaded Leipzig to pay just over €5m for him in January. The club handed him a contract running until June 2031 and allocated him the number 18 shirt.
Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schafer welcomed the signing and spoke highly of the winger’s potential.
“In Suleman Sani, we’ve signed a highly talented young winger,” Schafer said at the time.
He added that Sani possessed the qualities required to develop at Leipzig and said the club would allow him time to adapt to life in Germany.
Sani also expressed his excitement at joining the Bundesliga club.
“Moving to RB Leipzig is a big step for me, and something I’m extremely proud of,” he said.
He praised Leipzig’s reputation for developing young players and said he was looking forward to learning every day.
No competitive appearance for Leipzig
Sani’s move did not develop as either he or the club had expected. Injury problems affected his progress in Germany, while the competition for attacking positions made it difficult for him to break into the senior squad.
He trained with Leipzig’s Under-19 side during August as the club prepared for the new Bundesliga season.
The club had several attacking players competing for places, including Antonio Nusa, Johan Bakayoko, Brajan Gruda and Tidiam Gomis, with other young forwards also ahead of Sani in the first-team pecking order.
When Leipzig began their 2026-27 Bundesliga campaign with a 3-0 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach, Sani was not included in the senior matchday squad.
Al-Qadsiah finished fourth in the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League under former Liverpool and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers. The club have also strengthened significantly during the summer, including the signing of Tijjani Reijnders from Manchester City.
Leipzig will at least make a financial return on the transfer. Having paid slightly more than €5m for Sani in January, the German club are set to receive up to €8m from Al-Qadsiah.
That would represent a reported profit of about €3m, despite Sani never playing a competitive match for Leipzig.
