Shock Transfer: Nigerian Winger Jumps Ship From RB Leipzig to Saudi Club

Young Nigerian winger Suleman Sani has completed a surprise move from German club RB Leipzig to Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah. This transfer marks an end to Sani's brief Bundesliga adventure, during which he did not feature in a single competitive minute for RB Leipzig. The Nigeria youth international initially joined Leipzig from Slovakian club AS Trenčín in January 2026, having established a strong reputation as an exciting young talent.

Just six months after his arrival in Germany, Sani is now heading to Saudi Arabia. The deal is reported to be worth up to €8 million, according to Sky reports cited by Bild, and was finalized on Sunday, September 6, which was the closing day of Saudi Arabia's transfer window. Sani is expected to sign a three-year contract with Al-Qadsiah, with an additional option for a fourth season. This move is anticipated to provide the 20-year-old with a fresh opportunity to secure regular senior football, after a combination of injuries and intense competition at Leipzig prevented him from making his first-team debut.

Sani's senior career began with Nigerian club Akwa United before he transferred to AS Trenčín in Slovakia in September 2024. During his tenure at Trenčín, he quickly adapted to European football, concluding his spell with an impressive record of 16 goals and seven assists across 59 competitive appearances. These statistics were compelling enough to convince RB Leipzig to invest approximately €5 million in the winger in January 2026. The German club awarded him a contract extending until June 2031 and assigned him the No. 18 shirt, with their sporting director Marcel Schäfer expressing enthusiasm about the signing. Schäfer lauded Sani as a "highly talented young winger" possessing the necessary attributes for development at Leipzig, assuring that the club would provide him with time to adjust to life in Germany. Sani himself shared this optimism upon his arrival, stating that moving to RB Leipzig was a significant and proud step, and acknowledging the club's reputation for nurturing young players.

However, Sani's aspirations at Leipzig did not materialize as planned. He encountered persistent injury problems following his transfer to Germany, which significantly hampered his ability to integrate into Leipzig's senior squad. During August 2026, as the club prepared for the new Bundesliga campaign, Sani was training with the Under-19 team. Furthermore, Leipzig's attacking lineup boasted several strong options, with young forwards such as Antonio Nusa, Johan Bakayoko, Brajan Gruda, and Tidiam Gomis reportedly ahead of Sani in the pecking order for first-team selection. When Leipzig commenced the 2026-27 Bundesliga season with a 3-0 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach, Sani was notably absent from the senior matchday squad.

Al-Qadsiah now presents Sani with a clear path to consistent first-team football. The Saudi club finished fourth in the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League under the management of former Liverpool and Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers. The team also pursued significant strengthening during the summer transfer window, including the acquisition of Tijjani Reijnders from Manchester City. Financially, RB Leipzig will also benefit from the transaction. Having paid just over €5 million for Sani in January 2026, the German club is set to receive up to €8 million from Al-Qadsiah, reportedly generating a profit of approximately €3 million despite the Nigerian winger never playing a competitive match for them.