Jerry Afriyie
Ghanaian striker Jerry Afriyie is on the verge of completing a move to Belgian side Genk after Al-Qadsiah reportedly agreed to sell the forward for around €6 million.
The transfer would represent a significant profit for the Saudi Arabian club, which signed Afriyie from Ghanaian second-tier side Thoughts FC for just under €1 million.
Afriyie joined Al-Qadsiah as a promising 19-year-old before being loaned out to Europe to continue his development. He spent time with Spanish club Lugo and Belgian side La Louvière, gaining valuable experience and adapting to European football.
Now, just 18 months after his arrival in Saudi Arabia, Afriyie is set to make a permanent return to Europe with Genk.
The reported €6 million fee would see Al-Qadsiah earn roughly six times their initial investment, highlighting the club’s emerging strategy of identifying young talent, developing players and selling them when suitable opportunities arise.
The Saudi club has increasingly shown interest in young prospects rather than focusing exclusively on established stars. Argentine midfielder Equi Fernández is another example, having moved from Al-Qadsiah to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
For Afriyie, the move to Genk represents another major step in his career. The Belgian club has built a reputation for developing young players and providing them with a pathway towards some of Europe’s biggest leagues.
His transfer also underlines the progress made by the Ghanaian forward since leaving the domestic game, with his European loan spells helping to prepare him for a permanent move back to the continent.
If completed, the deal will also highlight the increasingly changing relationship between Saudi and European football, with clubs such as Al-Qadsiah emerging not only as destinations for established players but also as investors in young talent.
