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Georginio Wijnaldum is eyeing a return to the Premier League this summer once his contract at Al Ettifaq expires, opening the door to a potential move back to England for the former Liverpool midfielder.
The 35-year-old Dutchman has no plans to retire and believes he still has plenty to offer at the top level after three seasons in the Saudi Pro League.
Signed by Al Ettifaq in 2023 following his stint at Paris Saint-Germain, Wijnaldum quickly became a key figure in Dammam and was later handed the captain’s armband, underlining his status as the leader of a project built around experience and professionalism.
This season he has continued to deliver in the final third, registering 14 goals and 6 assists in league action, impressive returns from midfield that have kept his name firmly on the radar of European clubs.
Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett has reported:
“Former Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is keen to make a return to the Premier League next season when his contract in the Saudi Pro League expires this summer. ”
“The 35-year-old has no plans to retire and still feels he has a lot to offer, having scored 14 goals and provided six assists for Al Ettifaq this season. ”
“As things stand, his priority is a return to playing in England, although no decision has yet been made about his future.”
“Wijnaldum played 237 times for Liverpool over five seasons, winning the Premier League and Champions League, before leaving to join PSG in 2021.”
Al Ettifaq are sitting seventh in the Saudi Pro League table, safely in mid‑table but outside the title and Asian qualification picture, and there is a growing feeling that both club and captain could be ready for a natural parting of ways at the end of the campaign.
For Wijnaldum, who has spent the last three seasons in Saudi Arabia, the challenge of one more run in a major European league seems to be a big one.
The ex-Liverpool man claimed that Klopp seemed happy with his current Red Bull role amid speculation over a return to managaent earlier this year.
