Gini Wijnaldum will become the third former Liverpool player to join Al Ettifaq this summer.
The Saudi Pro League appointed Steven Gerrard as their new manager in July and the Reds legend quickly returned to his old club for his first major signing in Jordan Henderson.
Liverpool’s longest-serving player and club captain made the surprising and controversial move to join Gerrard in the Saudi city of Dammam last month in a £12m deal, reportedly agreeing a contract worth £350k a week.
READ MORE: Jordan Henderson – Liverpool legend with a tainted legacy
33-year-old Henderson was immediately made captain and given the number ten shirt at Gerrard’s side, who finished seventh in last season’s Saudi Pro League.
Al Ettifaq are now close to securing their third Liverpool favourite with the imminent arrival of Wijnaldum, who had been frozen out at Paris Saint-Germain.
The Dutch midfielder will sign a three-year deal, according to Fabrizio Romano, with Al Ettifaq paying PSG ‘in excess of €9m’ to secure the transfer.
Gini Wijnaldum to Al Ettifaq, here we go! Verbal agreement in place on three year deal, PSG to receive fee in excess of €9m package 🇸🇦 #AlEttifaq
Contracts being checked then deal completed. Wijnaldum has accepted.
Steven Gerrard called him as revealed two days ago. pic.twitter.com/0RslJb6qzr
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 1, 2023
32-year-old Wijnaldum, who made 237 appearances for Liverpool between 2016 and 2021, joined PSG two summers ago at the end of his contract at Anfield.
However, he found game time limited and was loaned out to Roma for the 2022/23 season.
After returning to the French capital this summer, he was put on the transfer list and reportedly made to train separately from the main squad in a group described in the press as ‘the undesirables’ that also included Mauro Icardi and Julian Draxler.
In addition to the familiar faces of Gerrard and Henderson, Wijnaldum will also join ex-Liverpool stars Roberto Firmino, Fabinho and Sadio Mane in Saudi Arabia – meaning five of the Reds starting XI from the 2019 Champions League will now play their football in the Saudi Pro League.
