Al-Ittihad close to signing Sporting Lisbon star Pedro Goncalves
Saudi side Al-Ittihad are nearing a deal for Sporting Lisbon's Pedro Goncalves, with a 30 million euro offer expected to finalize the transfer.
Saudi club Al-Ittihad are on the brink of a major transfer coup as they move to secure Sporting Lisbon's star playmaker Pedro Goncalves. The club is reportedly prepared to pay 30 million euros to sign the Portuguese international on a permanent deal.
Renowned agent Jorge Mendes is spearheading the negotiations. According to reports from the Portuguese newspaper A Bola, informal discussions have already taken place with the Sporting board, who are now awaiting an official bid to initiate the final administrative procedures. Al-Ittihad's intervention has effectively hijacked the deal, moving ahead of newly promoted Al-Diriyah in the race for the player's signature.
This move is a significant statement of intent for Al-Ittihad. While the player's valuation had previously dipped between 20 and 25 million euros, the intense bidding war has pushed the price back up to the 30 million euro mark, reflecting his quality and importance to the project.
Signs of an imminent exit have been mounting, as Goncalves played limited minutes in a recent friendly against Monaco, a gesture widely interpreted by fans as a farewell. Despite a contract running until 2030, a verbal agreement between the player and the club allows him to leave should a suitable offer arrive, bypassing his 80 million euro release clause.
The deal is now in its final stages, and an official announcement is anticipated within the coming days, marking the arrival of one of the Portuguese league's most consistent performers into the Saudi Pro League.