Done deal: Nigerian winger quits RB Leipzig for Saudi’s Al-Qadsiah

Young Nigerian winger Suleman Sani has completed his surprise move from RB Leipzig to Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah, Soccernet.ng reports.

The transfer ends Sani's short Bundesliga adventure without playing a single competitive minute for the German club.

The Nigeria youth international joined Leipzig from Slovakian side AS Trenčín in January 2026 after building a strong reputation as an exciting young winger. Six months later, he is heading to Saudi Arabia in a deal worth up to €8 million, according to reports from Sky cited by Bild.

The transfer was completed on Sunday, September 6, the final day of Saudi Arabia's transfer window. Sani is expected to sign a three-year contract with Al-Qadsiah, with an option for another season.

The move gives the 20-year-old a fresh chance to play regular senior football after injuries and strong competition at Leipzig prevented him from making his first-team debut.

From Nigeria to Leipzig

Sani began his senior journey with Nigerian club Akwa United before moving to AS Trenčín in Slovakia in September 2024. He quickly gained experience in European football and finished his Trenčín spell with 16 goals and seven assists in 59 competitive appearances.

Those numbers convinced Leipzig to invest about €5 million in the winger in January. The German club handed him a contract running until June 2031 and gave him the No. 18 shirt.

Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schäfer was excited by the signing.

“In Suleman Sani, we’ve signed a highly talented young winger,” Schäfer said at the time. He described Sani as a player with the attributes needed to develop at Leipzig and said the club would give him time to settle in Germany.

Sani was equally confident when he arrived.

“Moving to RB Leipzig is a big step for me, and something I’m extremely proud of,” he said. He also praised the club's reputation for developing young players and said he was looking forward to learning every day.

Zero Bundesliga minutes

However, the dream did not develop as planned. Sani struggled with injury problems after moving to Germany and could not force his way into Leipzig's senior squad. He trained with the Under-19 team during August as the club prepared for the new Bundesliga campaign.

Leipzig also had several attacking options competing for places. Antonio Nusa, Johan Bakayoko, Brajan Gruda, Tidiam Gomis and other young forwards were ahead of Sani in the first-team picture.

When Leipzig opened the 2026-27 Bundesliga season with a 3-0 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach, Sani was not part of the senior matchday group.

Al-Qadsiah offers a new beginning

Al-Qadsiah now gives Sani a route to regular first-team football. The Saudi club finished fourth in the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League under former Liverpool and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers. The team also strengthened heavily during the summer, including the signing of Tijjani Reijnders from Manchester City.

Leipzig will also make money from the deal. The German club paid just over €5 million for Sani in January and is set to receive up to €8 million from Al-Qadsiah, creating a reported profit of about €3 million despite the Nigerian never playing a competitive match for the club.