Roma center-back Chris Smalling could join Al-Fayha in the Saudi Pro League.
Smalling was a center-back for Manchester United, England, and Roma. He was among the substitutes when Roma played against Juventus for the first time during the 2024/2025 season, but that could be a farewell as discussions progress to see the defender move to the Saudi Pro League.
The Move To Al-Fayha
Smalling is 34 and could join Al-Fayha as a new team center back. The move will become complete when Smalling passes his medical. This deadline is Monday, 2nd September when the transfer window closes in the Saudi Pro League.
After leaving Manchester United, Smalling moved to Roma on loan in 2019 and, after impressing them, signed a three-year deal worth £18m. His career in Italy lasted five years, during which he played 150 times for Roma. However, he had a poor run due to injury last season. He only appeared in 12 matches and hasn’t played in any game in the current season.
Smalling has some important memories with the club. He started the Europa Conference League final in 2022, a game they won by a lone goal. Smalling could have won a Europa League the following year when Roma faced Sevilla in 2023, but they lost on penalties. Smalling started the match on that day.
The Saudi Pro League New Array Of Football Talents
ApprehensiveOffer818, “We should have never sold him. Had so much more to offer”
Smalling will be among the stars who have moved to the Arabian country to continue their careers. Others include Ivan Toney, Neymar Jr., Moussa Diaby, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, and Sadio Mane. These players had great careers in Europe before they took the plunge.
It’s a fair deal since the Arabian offers great monetary compensation for players near the end of their careers. It’s unlikely that most of them will get such good proposals if they had decided to remain in Europe. They get such reasonable deals and help the league boost its reputation and coverage. The Arabian made the league more attractive when they first made a move for former United and Madrid footballer Christiano Ronaldo. Now, Smalling has become another exciting addition to a league-development project.
Smalling isn’t the only player leaving Roma for an Arabian team. Brazilian winger Joao Costa is moving to Al-Ettifaq in the same league on a permanent deal from Roma. Unlike Smalling, the Brazilian only played 5 times for Roma in the Europa League and Serie A.
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Smalling Career So Far
Chris Smalling has had an exciting career. Some pundits look at him as a star who didn’t make it to the top, like people he was meant to succeed when he started his career. He was just a 19-year-old who began his career under the professional guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson. At 19, he came when greats like Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand were still at the club. He made only 16 League appearances in the season of 2010. Smalling had big competitions in the team and at 19, he was just not the guy to bench Vidic, one of the finest the league had ever had.
“It didn’t help them because they (Smalling and Phil Jones) didn’t have a more experienced player to pick their brain when they played,” Vidic told ESPN.
He was in the Manchester United team until 2015, but nothing meaningful happened. Though Vidic and Ferdinand had left United by then, Smalling didn’t get the chance to prove his talent yet.
As in all walks of life, only those who strive for excellence end up winning and Chris’ story resonates well.
Chris only played as second fiddle to Jonny Evans, Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo. In 2015, he got a new deal, a four-year contract extension. This came after impressive performances against big teams like Tottenham, City and Liverpool in the same year.
That was a remarkable season for him. They had a solid defensive performance with Smalling playing a part in it, but the best performer in that run was the goalkeeper at the time, David Degea. David almost had a golden glove if he hadn’t conceded a goal that prevented him from sharing the glove with the winner. It wasn’t a goal from the opposition. Smalling scored an own goal. But it wasn’t a bad season because Smalling still won the ‘Player’s Player of the Year Award at the end, and David was the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year Award winner.
Manchester United changed managers the next season. Things were meant to go well for him because the new manager was Jose Mourinho, a man famous for choosing tough, disciplined, and talented defenders. Mourinho’s team usually has one major strength across all the teams he has managed: their discipline and selflessness when they have to protect their goalkeeper. Smalling could have been favored because he seemed to fit Mourinho’s style. Unfortunately, he had an injury-inflicted season.
He made some progress under Mourinho and showed glimpses of great performances, but the club would change manager later. Smalling didn’t get a chance. Soon, he was out of favor again, and off he went to Roma for a fresh start in 2019. Five years later, he’s saying goodbye to all of Europe and heading where the grass is greener financially.
Smalling career in Europe:
- 2007 – 2008 – Maidstone United
- 2008 – 2010 – Fulham
- 2010 – 2020 – Manchester United
- 2019 – 2020 – Roma (Loan)
- 2019 – 2024 – Roma
Smalling potential to seal this contract is a testament to the growing popularity of the Saudi Pro League. Fans look forward to him being a valuable addition to the team and wish him an impressive international career.
