Saudi Arabia, an early detour for football hopefuls

French midfielder Enzo Millot during the football tournament at the Paris Olympic Games on August 9, 2024. PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP

He's only 23 years old, has a bright future ahead of him, and is already leaving the Old Continent. Enzo Millot, a promising midfielder for VfB Stuttgart and captain of the French U21 team, will not be continuing his career at a major European club, but at Al-Ahli FC in Saudi Arabia, where he signed on Saturday, August 9, for three seasons, until 2028. An unexpected transfer, as the Paris 2024 Olympic runner-up was being courted by major European teams. He's not the first, nor will he be the last. Indeed, more and more players fresh out of youth academies are giving in to the call of the Wahhabi kingdom, long a playground for footballers nearing the end of their careers.

Behind these early moves, there is first and foremost money, admit all the agents licensed by the French Football Federation (FFF) interviewed by Le Monde . "Before, it was rare ," explains Yassine Askri, owner of the MyFootballConcept agency. I find it bad that young people leave, but it is very difficult to refuse the contract on the table." Enzo Millot is expected to receive a salary significantly higher than the one he received at his former club.

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