Mogelijk crisis at Al Qadsiah: El Karouani at risk in Saudi-Arabië

Mogelijk very bad news for Souffian El Karouani, the former FC Utrecht left‑back, as his Saudi‑Arabian club Al Qadsiah appears to have left him out of the squad shortly after his free‑transfer this summer and a three‑year contract running to mid‑2029.

Foreign‑player quota pressure

Al Qadsiah currently has eleven foreign players under contract, while the Saudi Professional League permits only eight foreigners over the age of 23. This excess means the club must trim its foreign contingent, putting El Karouani’s place in jeopardy.

Contract and playing time concerns

El Karouani arrived on a free transfer from FC Utrecht this summer, signing a three‑year deal that runs until mid‑2029. Transfermarkt still values him at roughly fifteen million euros, yet he has not featured in the first two competitive matches of the season.

He did make an unofficial debut, appearing in a single training match, but the lack of competitive minutes has already sparked speculation about a possible departure, as reported by De .

Al Qadsiah’s recent recruitment includes Tijjani Reijnders, who also signed a contract with the club, highlighting the side’s aggressive foreign‑player acquisition strategy.

Earlier in the transfer window, El Karouani was linked with a move to Rusland, but FC Utrecht refused to conduct business with that club, leading to the eventual switch to Saudi Arabia.

If the club cannot resolve its foreign‑player quota issue, El Karouani may be left out of the Saudi‑Arabië roster, forcing him to seek playing time elsewhere.