Chris Smalling, the seasoned English center-back, has signed a two-year contract with Al-Fayha, a club in the Saudi Pro League. The 34-year-old made a significant impact at AS Roma, where he appeared in 155 matches and found the net 10 times. Smalling initially joined Roma in 2019 after leaving Manchester United.
In the 2022-2023 season, Smalling’s contributions were limited due to injury, restricting him to just 12 appearances. This season, he has yet to make an appearance on the pitch, though he was on the bench during Roma’s recent match against Juventus. The details of the transfer, including whether a fee was involved, remain undisclosed by both clubs.
Smalling played a key role in Roma’s triumph in the 2022 Europa Conference League, helping the team secure victory over Feyenoord in the final. He was also a part of the squad that reached the Europa League final the following year, where Roma was narrowly defeated by Sevilla.
Before his time in Italy, Smalling had an accomplished career at Manchester United, where he was a member of two Premier League-winning teams. Additionally, he earned 31 caps for the England national team, with his last appearance in 2017. Smalling’s professional journey began at Maidstone and Fulham, before his move to Manchester United.
The transfer occurred on the final day of the Saudi Pro League’s transfer window. Other notable late signings include Steven Bergwijn, who moved to Al-Ittihad from Ajax for £17.7 million, and Danilo Pereira, who departed Paris Saint-Germain to join the same club.
[wpupg-grid id=articles]