In this file photo, Al-Dhafiri vies for the ball with Al Qadsiya player.

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 30: Al-Qadsiya Club has officially signed Saudi midfielder Abdulrahman Al-Dhafiri on a two-and-a-half-year contract to strengthen its midfield ranks.

Born on May 20, 1999, in Kuwait, Al-Dhafiri began his football journey in the youth divisions of Kuwait Club. He later played for Al-Nasr Saudi Club's U-23 team before being loaned to several clubs, including Al-Batin (2018), Al-Ain and Al-Khaleej (2019), Al-Hazm (2020), and Al-Orouba (2022). In 2023, he joined Al-Arabi.

Al-Dhafiri made a strong impact at Al-Arabi, establishing himself as a key player in the starting lineup and contributing significantly to the team's victories. However, he stopped training at the beginning of the current season due to financial disputes and eventually filed a complaint with FIFA's Dispute Resolution Committee, which ruled in his favor to terminate his contract.

Following his move to Al-Qadsiya, Al-Dhafiri shared his excitement on social media, stating:

"I signed my contract with Al-Qadsiya, where glory, history, present, and future lie. 

Al-Qadsiya has faced challenges in midfield in recent years due to the departure of key players like Ahmed Al-Dhafiri, Saif Al-Hashan, Sultan Al-Enezi, and Reda Hani. Additionally, club veteran Bader Al-Mutawa's advancing age (41) has impacted the team's performance in this crucial area.

The club hopes Al-Dhafiri's arrival will provide much-needed stability and creativity in midfield as it aims to regain its competitive edge.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff