Iraqi international footballer Ali Jasim is set to sign with Saudi club Al-Najma for the upcoming season, according to the Iraqi national team’s media coordinator.
Qutaiba Al-Maliki told AFP on Wednesday that the 21-year-old Olympic team player left Iraq’s U-23 training camp in Kuala Lumpur—held in preparation for the AFC Asian qualifiers in Cambodia next month—to finalize his move to Al-Najma.
He added that Italian side Como, Jasim’s current club, agreed to release him and allow the midfielder to begin a new professional chapter in the Saudi Pro League.
Al-Maliki explained that Jasim had received two offers from Saudi clubs Al-Hazem and Al-Najma, but chose to join the latter.
This will be Jasim’s third overseas experience, following previous loan spells with Como (Italy) and Almere City (Netherlands) last season.
Named the AFC Young Player of the Year in 2024, Jasim previously helped Iraq finish runner-up in the 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan, represented his country in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, and played a key role in qualifying Iraq’s Olympic team for the Paris 2024 Games, where he was also named the tournament’s best player in Doha.
At the domestic level, Jasim has represented Al-Karkh, Al-Shorta, Al-Kahraba, and Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya in the Iraqi Premier League.
Al-Najma, returning to the Saudi Pro League this season, will begin their campaign against Al-Qadisiyah on Saturday, while the league officially kicks off on Thursday.
Source: AFP
