Georginio Wijnaldum is officially set to leave Al Ettifaq at the end of the 2025/2026 season, becoming a free agent on June 30, 2026. The Dutch midfielder will now bring his three-year spell in the Saudi Pro League to an end, marking a major shift in his career.
As shared by Fabrizio Romano on official X handle, the move has already been decided between both parties.
Fabrizio Romano reported;
Gini Wijnaldum will leave Al Ettifaq as free agent in the summer. It’s over between the Dutch midfielder and the Saudi club. Financial decision by the club and not technical as @JacobsBen reported.
Despite the exit, Wijnaldum has enjoyed a strong individual season, scoring 15 goals and providing six assists in 29 appearances. Softfootball believes the decision is mainly financial, as Al Ettifaq look to reduce wage spending and build a more balanced squad for the future.
This development also comes at a time of wider instability in Saudi football. The national team recently parted ways with head coach Hervé Renard just weeks before the World Cup, following a poor run of friendly results. It reflects a period of major change across the region’s football structure.
On the European side, recent Champions League drama continues to dominate headlines. After Real Madrid’s painful exit to Bayern Munich, Jude Bellingham publicly apologised to fans and promised a stronger finish to the season. Reports believes these parallel stories show how top clubs across the world are now under pressure to reset quickly after setbacks.
Looking ahead, Wijnaldum is expected to attract strong interest from Europe. Clubs such as AS Monaco and several Premier League sides are already monitoring his situation for a possible free transfer this summer. The midfielder is now focused on finishing his time in Saudi Arabia on a positive note before deciding his next move in July.
