Al‑Sadd SC has officially announced the capture of Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino from Saudi Arabian side Al‑Ahli Jeddah, sealing a two‑year contract that runs through summer 2027
Firmino, aged 33, joined Al‑Ahli in July 2023 after a stellar eight‑year spell at Liverpool. During his tenure in Jeddah, he featured in 65 matches across all competitions, scoring 21 goals and providing 17 assists—a performance that helped Al‑Ahli clinch their first ever AFC Champions League Elite title in May 2025
In the Champions League run, he struck six goals in 12 games, including two assists in the final against Kawasaki Frontale, earning Most Valuable Player honours
Despite having a contract that extended into 2026, an early mutual agreement paved the way for his departure after two seasons in Saudi Arabia—especially after Al‑Ahli signed top talent Galeno, forcing Firmino’s deregistration from the domestic league squad due to foreign player limits
The move to Qatar represents a strategic step for Firmino, who reportedly turned down interest from clubs like Flamengo and Fenerbahçe, preferring to continue playing competitive continental football in the Gulf region
At Al‑Sadd, he joins the reigning Qatar Stars League champions and becomes part of a squad with both domestic and Asian ambitions
In a farewell message, Firmino reflected: “I’m happy because we made history at the club during these two years together… The best moment was to become the champions of Asia. I’m very grateful for this.”
Known for his creativity, technical flair and versatility in attack, Firmino is expected to be a key figure in Al‑Sadd’s rebuild, bringing leadership and continental pedigree to the squad as they gear up for the next AFC Champions League Elite season