Al-Orobah handed transfer ban by FIFA for failing to pay The New Saints any transfer fees after signing their young English player Brad Young..

The Athletic exclusively reported on Sunday that FIFA has officially imposed a transfer ban on newly promoted Saudi Pro League club Al-Orobah because they never paid a single cent of the transfer fee and interest after signing young English forward Brad Young from Cymru Premier giants The New Saints last summer.

According to the report, The New Saints has already filed a lawsuit to FIFA since December 1, 2024, claiming that Al-Orobah never paid the £190,000 release clause after signing Young, and never fulfilled its promise in November that if Young's transfer fee was not paid to the club, The New Saints would have the right to charge them interest.

The world's top football regulator has already granted Al-Orobah's delay to pay The New Saints after the winter transfer window closes in February, but the newly promoted Saudi Pro League club insisted on ignoring the request, so FIFA can only place the highest level of global transfer ban on Al-Orobah.

During this ban, Al-Orobah will be prohibited from signing and registering any new players from other clubs for three years until all transfer fees and interest owed to The New Saints have been confirmed to have been paid.

In addition, since Al-Orobah has had many complaints and cases of owing wages to staff members and players, as well as unilaterally terminating their contracts without reason in the past few years, FIFA has decided to take such a severe ruling to punish Al-Orobah and any club that intends to emulate the newly promoted Saudi Pro League club in the future after comprehensive consideration.

It is worth mentioning that The New Saints was already dissatisfied with Al-Orobah for taking advantage of the legal loophole that any club can automatically trigger the clause in the player's contract as long as they are willing to pay the release clause in the player's contract, and sign the player from British club, because the Cymru Premier giants never wanted to sell Young.

Since then, The New Saint has launched a campaign to urge all clubs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as local FAs, UEFA and FIFA in the UK to change to the release clause model that is common in Spanish football, which can only be triggered by the player himself, the agent, his club and the buyer with their consent, in order to protect the maximum financial interests of British clubs.

About Brad Young

Young, who is only 22 years old, was born in Solihull, England on January 6, 2003. He is 1.85 meters tall and primarily plays as a right winger. He can also play as a left winger or attacking midfielder.

Young played in the West Bromwich Albion youth academy when he was a child, but was released at the age of 12. After being released, Young joined Aston Villa's youth academy and completed his Aston Villa first-team debut by coming on as a substitute in an English FA Cup match against Liverpool in January 2021.

In August of the same year, Young was loaned-out to Carlisle United, and on the deadline day of the the following year's summer transfer window, he was loaned-out to Ayr United.

After being released in the summer of 2023, Young joined The New Saints as a free agent. During this spell, he was highly praised for his extremely high goalscoring efficiency.

In September 2024, Al-Orobah unilaterally triggered the £190,000 release clause in Young's contract and signed him.

Since becoming a member of Al-Orobah, Young has played 15 times for the newly-promoted Saudi Pro League club in all competitions, scoring 2 goals and making 1 assist.