 "Major boost to Cristiano Ronaldo's hopes of winning maiden SPL title as FIFA removes transfer embargo on Al-Nassr")
In a timely boost for Cristiano Ronaldo and his club Al-Nassr, FIFA removed the Saudi Pro League side from the list of clubs that are banned from completing transfer deals. The development comes shortly before the next transfer window gets underway in January, and boosts Ronaldo’s chances of winning his maiden league title with Al-Nassr since his high-profile move to Saudi Arabia in 2023.
Al-Nassr had been put on FIFA’s transfer embargo list on 19 December. And while the reason behind the transfer ban was not officially revealed, Al Riyadhiya reported that the club faced sanction over an unfulfilled payment pertaining to their acquisition of French defender Aymeric Laporte from Manchester City in August, 2023. Pep Guardiola’s side were due to receive €9 million on 31 August, which did not materialise and led to the penalty.
It’s not the first time Al-Nassr have faced a registration ban, having previously been slapped with a ban in July 2023 – months after Ronaldo’s arrival and shortly before the Laporte deal. It was lifted after the club paid nearly €2 million in reparations over Ahmed Musa’s move from Leicester City in 2018.
How Al-Nassr managed to overturn FIFA transfer ban in just two days
As for the most recent case, the transfer embargo was lifted in just a couple of days, with Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano claiming that they have managed to escape sanction after exhibiting “full compliance” with FIFA’s rules.
🚨🟡🔵 FIFA verdict today confirms Al Nassr’s full compliance with rules as the registration ban has been permanently lifted.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 22, 2025
The case is closed, key news for Al Nassr ahead of 2026 plans for the club. 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/SWOXT31wmh
Al-Nassr are the third most successful team in the Saudi Pro League with 10 league titles, behind Al-Hilal (21) and Al-Ittihad (14). The last of those triumphs, however, had come in 2018-19, four years before their landmark signing of Ronaldo that transformed the oil-rich Gulf kingdom into a football powerhouse.
The only trophy they have won since the arrival of ‘CR7’ is the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup, in which the Portuguese superstar fired a brace in a 2-1 victory over rivals Al-Hilal.
Also Read | Ronaldo’s bicycle kick goal for Al Nassr creates storm on social media
Al-Nassr, however, currently lead the SPL standings, having won each of their nine games so far this season, with Al-Hilal (23) trailing them by four points. And with the transfer embargo – which extends across three transfer windows – not lifted, Ronaldo and manager Jorge Jesus will be confident of ending the title drought at the end of the season.
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