Francisco Trincão set for €50m move to Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli on €12m-a-year deal until 2030
The 26-year-old Portuguese winger is expected to finalise a contract until 2030 within 48 hours, replacing Riyad Mahrez at the Saudi Pro League club.
The deal
Francisco Trincão is on the verge of leaving Sporting CP for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli. Transfer specialist Nicolò Schira reports that both parties have reached an agreement and only final details remain. Journalist Ben Jacobs adds that Al-Ahli wants to close the deal within the next 24 to 48 hours and has already scheduled the Portuguese international's medical examinations. The winger, currently representing Portugal at the World Cup, will sign a contract running until 2030.
Both parties have reached an agreement and the negotiation is moving towards the final details.
Financial terms
The figures reported vary slightly across sources. Schira and other international outlets put the salary at 12 million euros per season, while French journalist Santi Aouna reports 11 million euros annually. The transfer fee is also split: SAPO cites a 50 million euro proposal to Sporting, whereas Notícias ao Minuto, citing Aouna, puts the figure at 45 million euros. Over a four-year contract, Trincão would earn close to 50 million euros in total salary, according to Notícias ao Minuto.
Replacing Mahrez
Trincão is being lined up as the direct replacement for Riyad Mahrez, whose contract with Al-Ahli recently ended. The Saudi club had made a late push for Marseille's Mason Greenwood but saw that offer rejected, after which it focused all efforts on the Portuguese forward. Al-Ahli's sporting director is Rui Pedro Braz, the Portuguese executive who was part of Benfica's structure from 2021 to 2025.
Trincão's Sporting legacy
A move to Saudi Arabia would end Trincão's four-season spell at Sporting, where he arrived initially on loan from Barcelona before a permanent switch. Across 208 appearances for the Lisbon club, he scored 47 goals and provided 45 assists. His trophy cabinet from the period includes two league titles, one Taça de Portugal, and one Taça da Liga. He was a key figure under both Rúben Amorim and Rui Borges.
What comes next
Sporting, who already confirmed the sale of Morten Hjulmand to Atlético de Madrid on Saturday morning, could see another departure follow quickly. Reports in Sunday's edition of O JOGO indicate that Pedro Gonçalves is also negotiating an exit and has attracted interest from Al Nassr, the club of Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix. Earlier in the summer window, Sporting secured Rodrigo Zalazar from SC Braga for 30 million euros.
