Skip to main content

Chris Smalling set for Saudi Pro League switch with World Cup winner lined up as replacement

Former Manchester United star Chris Smalling looks to be on the move after five years in the Italian capital with Roma, and a very capable German is in line to replace him

Chris Smalling during the friendly match between Roma and Olympiakos
Smalling looks to be on the move despite European transfer windows shutting(Image: Mattia Vian)

Ex-England and Manchester United defender Chris Smalling is set to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Fayha.


The 34-year-old tasted Premier League title success twice at Old Trafford under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson and last played for his national side in 2017.


Smalling is now poised to sign a reported two-year deal in the Middle East, and Roma boss Daniele De Rossi has already supposedly been told who will come in to replace the Englishman, with World Cup-winning German Mats Hummels primed to arrive in Italy after finding himself without a club this summer.


READ MORE: Ex-Premier League star joins Dutch giants as fans rage over 'Manchester United's loss'

READ MORE: Meet Federico Chiesa's scorching hot model WAG who was called the 'prettiest girl alive'

Article continues below

While European transfer windows have closed, Saudi's market remains open. Smalling will reportedly travel with his current side for their clash against Juventus before jetting off for a medical with his prospective new club.

Smalling joined United in January 2010; he arrived later that summer and quickly established himself as a starting centre-half the following season after injuries to Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.

How do you think Smalling will get on in Saudi Arabia? Let us know in the comments section


Smalling won the league twice with United
Smalling won the league twice with United(Image: MANCHESTER UNITED )
READ MORE: Jadon Sancho gets stick off Man Utd fans as new Chelsea star posts 19-word farewellREAD MORE: Man United 'target Fulham's Antonee Robinson' for January swoop to ease injury crisis

The physical defender was in and around the first team at Old Trafford for nine years, making 323 appearances for the Red Devils and scoring 18 goals. He also earned 31 caps for England during this period.

He departed in 2020, however, as the defender was marred by injury during his final few years at the club and fell out of favour with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.


Roma offered him a reprieve, initially on loan, but signed the player permanently in October 2020 in an £18million deal. The following season, he was reunited with one of his old United managers, Jose Mourinho, and went on to carve out a solid Serie A career.

Smalling is seeking pastures new
Smalling is seeking pastures new(Image: Getty Images)

He also lifted the Europe Conference League trophy in 2022, in which he was named the final's man of the match.

Article continues below

However, with the Englishman's contract due to run out next season the decision has been made to offload Smalling, who made over 150 appearances for the Italian outfit.

Hummels, currently a free agent, has been tipped as a replacement, after a deadline deal for Juventus centre-back Tiago Djalo collapsed. The 35-year-old was linked with moves to Brighton and Real Sociedad earlier this summer, but reports suggest Roma's talks with the defender are progressing well.

Follow Daily Star:



Jose MourinhoOle Gunnar SolskjaerRio FerdinandSir Alex FergusonPremier LeagueWorld CupSerie ASaudi ArabiaLondonManchester United FCTransfer newsSaudi Pro League
reach logo

At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the "Do Not Sell or Share my Data" button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Cookie Notice.