Saudi Pro League loses Morocco star Harimat to Qatar in row over ‘strange’ valuation

Saudi Arabia’s Pro League has missed out on signing Morocco international Mohamed Rabie Hrimat after a controversial pricing dispute, allowing Qatari side Al Shamal to swoop in and complete a deal worth around $2.5m.

The 32-year-old midfielder, one of the standout performers for Morocco at the 2025 Arab Cup in Qatar, had been close to joining Saudi club Al Ettifaq, according to Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat.

However, the move reportedly collapsed after the Saudi League’s central recruitment committee valued the player at only $1.5m – a figure that blocked Al Ettifaq from finalising the transfer and opened the door for Al Shamal.

Recruitment committee under scrutiny

Asharq Al-Awsat reported that it was the Saudi Pro League’s recruitment committee, operating under the league authority, which effectively set the price for Hrimat, insisting on a valuation of $1.5m.

Because Al Ettifaq was expected to work within that ceiling, the club was unable to match the package offered by Al Shamal, who agreed a deal worth close to $2.5m for the AS FAR Rabat midfielder.

The episode has intensified criticism from within Saudi clubs over what some see as excessive interference by the central committee in player valuations and transfer negotiations.

Several clubs are said to have lodged complaints in recent months, arguing that the committee’s intervention has delayed or derailed a number of potential signings during the current summer window.

‘Strange’ reason for deal collapse

Local coverage has described the reason for the failed transfer as “strange”, given that Hrimat’s recent international performances and market value appeared to justify a higher fee than the one imposed by the recruitment body.

Hrimat, who has been a key figure for Moroccan champions AS FAR (Royal Army), had been considered an attractive target for Saudi sides seeking experienced, technically strong midfielders with recent international pedigree.

Instead, Al Shamal, a club in the Qatar Stars League, capitalised on the impasse and moved quickly to close an agreement with the Moroccan club at a significantly higher price than the one set by the Saudi committee.

Arab Cup star heads to Qatar

Hrimat’s reputation has risen sharply following his displays for Morocco at the 2025 Arab Cup, staged in Qatar.

He was regarded as one of the best players in the tournament, helping the “Atlas Lions” lift the trophy and being named the competition’s best player.

Those performances, combined with his experience at club level, appeared to have positioned him as an ideal recruit for an ambitious Saudi side like Al Ettifaq, who have been active in the transfer market as the league continues its high-profile expansion.

Instead, his move to Qatar will be seen by some observers as a missed opportunity for the Saudi Pro League, which has invested heavily in attracting international talent but is now facing questions over whether internal mechanisms are hindering clubs in certain segments of the market.

Growing tension over transfer controls

The Hrimat case is the latest flashpoint in a broader debate within Saudi football over how much control the central recruitment committee should exert over club business.

While the committee is designed to bring financial discipline and strategic coherence to spending, complaints over rigid valuations and slow approvals have grown louder as the transfer window has progressed.

With Hrimat now set to continue his career in the Qatar Stars League rather than Saudi Arabia, pressure is likely to increase on league officials to review how recruitment policies are being applied – and whether they risk driving sought-after players elsewhere in the region.