Equi Fernández Nears Bayer Leverkusen Switch in Major Move for Saudi Club Al Qadsiah

Equi Fernández is close to joining Bayer Leverkusen. The German team made a €30 million offer plus a 15% sell-on clause. This move shows Al Qadsiah’s rise as a team that develops players for profitable transfers.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Bayer Leverkusen have an agreement with Equi Fernández, a 23-year-old midfielder from Argentina. The German club offered €30 million and a 15% sell-on clause to Al Qadsiah. Fernández joined the Saudi team from Boca Juniors for $20 million last year and played nearly the entire league season, appearing in 32 games and missing only two league matches. This strong performance has captured the attention of major European clubs as confirmed by reports.

Missing a recent Super Cup semi-final, which Al Qadsiah lost, sparked more transfer rumors. Fernández was previously close to signing for Real Sociedad, but talks broke down according to a recent update. Now, Leverkusen aims to secure one of South America’s top young talents, enhancing their growing Argentine core at the club.

BACKGROUND AND IMPLICATIONS

This move highlights Al Qadsiah’s ambitions. The Saudi club just secured promotion and made waves when they signed Fernández in August 2024 for a fee reported near €18-20 million. Selling him to a prominent team like Leverkusen for profit marks a dynamic shift in the Saudi football strategy. They focus on signing, developing, and selling talent to reinvest, as demonstrated by their intention to seek a higher fee than what they paid for Fernández according to reports.

Meanwhile, Leverkusen are strengthening after finishing second in the Bundesliga and reaching the Champions League last season. They recently signed Claudio Echeverri on loan and are set on building the squad to challenge Bayern Munich as noted in a previous article. For Fernández, this means joining a top European team, playing alongside fellow Argentines, and potentially advancing his national team career.

LOOKING AHEAD: LEVERKUSEN AND AL QADSIAH

Leverkusen’s next game is against Werder Bremen. Leverkusen lost their Bundesliga opener to Hoffenheim, and will want to bounce back as soon as possible if the goal is to pose a challenge to current Champions Bayern. Bremen also lost their opener to Eintracht Frankfurt, making every point crucial for both teams in their quest to overtake Bayern as mentioned in a recent fixture report.

For Al Qadsiah, continuing their league campaign without Fernández will be challenging. They strive to stay competitive in the Saudi Pro League. The results of these negotiations will significantly influence both clubs’ immediate and long-term plans.