Sunday 03 / August / 2025
Muscat: It is just three days since the 2017 summer transfer window of English football has been opened but the teams have already been splashing big bucks to rope in the best before the window closes on August 31.
Though it is clubs like Everton and players like John Terry who are hogging the limelight, in Oman and the wider Gulf region the focus is on Omani custodian Ali Al Habsi and his future.
The Arab football hero, who played a stellar role in revival of Reading FC’s fortunes and took Jaap Stam’s Championship side tantalisingly close to Premier League promotion, is being linked with two English clubs and several others from the Gulf region.
According to British media reports, English Premier League clubs West Bromwich Albion and Leicester City have shown interest in Ali Al Habsi while there are also enquiries from Saudi Arabia’s top sides Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, Al Nassr FC and Al Batin FC.
But it is learnt that just one club -- Al Hilal -- has made a formal approach to Reading FC to talk to Ali Al Habsi.
One source who is very close to the Omani captain, speaking to Time Sports on the condition of anonymity, said: “There are reports of many clubs showing interest in Ali (Al Habsi). But Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia is the only club to make an ‘official approach’ to Reading FC so far.”
“Now it is between Ali and Reading... to talk about what to do with that offer. And we have to remember the fact that Ali has signed a new three-year contract at the beginning (in January) of this year,” he added.
But at the same time, the source also confirmed that the Omani captain is likely to sign on the dotted line for Riyadh-based Al Hilal 'within hours'.
Vital factors
Ali though may weigh in several vital factors -- including age, financial security and more importantly the playing time -- before putting the pen to the paper.
It is unlikely the Omani star, a first choice keeper at Reading where he won two back-to-back 'player of the year' awards, will accept an offer to be a back-up for Ben Foster at West Bromwich. Or for that matter at any other club in English football where he had already made his mark.
But it makes sense -- considering his desire to be on the field instead of warming the bench even at 35 years of age -- for Ali to move to Saudi Arabia where the league has amended the rules to let the clubs to hire the foreign goalkeepers.
“It is not all about money. But at this stage of his career I think he will be looking at the future -- both personal and professional -- and what is good for him before taking a decision. When you are thinking about leagues like Saudi Arabia and China, the deal has to be definitely good,” the source said.
At the end of the last season, Al Al Habsi gave no hint of a possibility of leaving Reading FC, instead spoke about how the Royals will come back ‘even stronger next year’.
Right after Reading were beaten by Huddersfield Town for the final Premier League promotion spot in the play-off final on May 29, Ali said: “We have to be very proud of ourselves, with what we’ve been doing all season we’ve been fantastic. Hopefully this can make us stronger, we can come back stronger next year and to believe in ourselves and what the manager wants us to do.”
“I’m sure we’ll be fine and be even stronger next year.”
