The impact of the new transfer ban imposed by FIFA on Al-Nassr is not in the list itself, but in the silence that comes with it. Since December 19, the club has officially been barred from registering players, with no defined timeline for the restriction to be lifted. The sanction arrives on the eve of the January window and creates a situation of practical suspension. The team keeps playing, but it cannot plan.
The most sensitive issue is the lack of clarity. The punishment is not tied to a specific number of windows, nor to any public deadline. It is described only as valid until it is suspended. That makes even basic forecasting impossible and forces the club to operate in the dark, something unusual in a league that has grown used to quick decisions and aggressive moves in the market.
A recurring problem that has already come at a high cost
Al-Nassr is familiar with this kind of situation. In 2023, the club faced a similar block that stemmed from financial issues linked to the signing of Ahmed Musa in 2018 from Leicester City. The unpaid amount, related to performance bonuses, was identified by FIFA years later and ultimately led to the sanction.
In that episode, the issue was resolved after the club settled the amounts owed, in a process that involved roughly two million euros. The ban was lifted and the club resumed its activity in the market. That history does not define the current problem, but it shows that this type of hurdle has already been part of Al-Nassr’s administrative routine.
So far, there is no official confirmation about the reason behind the new punishment. What is known is that it exists, it is active, and it directly affects the club’s ability to respond on the sporting side in the middle of the season.
A squad that keeps performing despite the restriction
On the field, Al-Nassr continues to function normally. And once again, that runs through Cristiano Ronaldo. At 40, the Portuguese star remains the team’s main figure, with 11 goals and two assists in 12 matches this season.
The uncertainty around when the club will be allowed to sign new players creates a clear contrast. On one side, a squad built around a global star who is still delivering. On the other, an administrative block that prevents adjustments at a strategic point in the season.
If recent history offers any reference, a solution could come through the fulfillment of outstanding obligations. But until that happens, Al-Nassr is stuck in a waiting period that does not match the fast pace of Saudi soccer. And while FIFA does not lift the sanction, the club is forced to deal with off-field limits that cannot be solved with goals, not even when they come from Cristiano Ronaldo.