Al-Nassr have completed the permanent signing of Portugal midfielder Samu Costa from Spanish La Liga side RCD Mallorca ahead of the 2026–27 Saudi Pro League season. The 25-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year contract that runs until the end of the 2029–30 campaign.
The reported transfer fee is around €22 million, roughly 90 million SAR at mid-2026 exchange rates, though earlier Saudi press reports had mentioned a figure closer to €9 million. A frequently cited total package value, including salary across the deal, stands at around €42 million, or about 172 million SAR.
The agreement between Mallorca and Al-Nassr had been in place since July 2026, but the completion was delayed while administrative and financial control procedures on the Saudi side were finalized. This included clearance from the Saudi Pro League's Financial Control Committee before the deal could be registered and announced.
Why it matters
Under the current regulatory framework, Saudi Pro League clubs can register 25 players, with up to 10 foreign players. On matchdays, teams may field eight foreign players plus one foreign player born in Saudi Arabia who meets the age criteria. Costa's registration, processed through the league's electronic system linked to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, had to be completed before the transfer window closed for him to be eligible this season.
The signing adds midfield depth to Al-Nassr as clubs across the league continue to strengthen their squads ahead of the new campaign. For fans in Riyadh and beyond, it is another marquee addition to a competition that has drawn growing regional and international attention.
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