JEDDAH — Al Ittihad has announced the loan of Saudi internationals Faisal Al Ghamdi and Marwan Al Sahafi to Belgian Pro League side Beerschot for the 2024-25 season. This move follows Saud Abdulhamid's recent transfer from Al Hilal to AS Roma and reflects a growing trend of Saudi players making their mark in European football. In a statement, Al Ittihad, the 2022-23 Roshn Saudi League champions, emphasized that the loan aligns with their strategy to develop young talent and support their growth, ultimately benefiting both the club and Saudi sports. Al Ghamdi, 23, began his professional journey with Al Ettifaq, where he made his RSL debut in 2022, registering 30 appearances. He joined Al Ittihad last season, making 18 appearances and earning recognition as the league's Young Player of the Month. Internationally, Al Ghamdi scored his first goal for Saudi Arabia during the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. Al Sahafi, 20, who made his debut for Al Ittihad in 2022, has made 27 RSL appearances, scoring twice. The winger earned his first international cap in June 2024 during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. At Beerschot, Al Ghamdi and Al Sahafi will join a club that was recently promoted to the Belgian top flight and is managed by Dirk Kuyt, the former Dutch international and Liverpool star. Kuyt expressed enthusiasm about adding the Saudi talents to his squad, noting their technical skills and potential to thrive under the Dutch system focused on youth development.
