LIVERPOOL hero Georginio Wijnaldum is reportedly set to join Saudi Arabian giants Al-Ittihad on a free transfer.
The former Reds midfielder, 35, is understood to have agreed a one-year deal with the option of a further 12 months.
Transfer reporter Ben Jacobs claims Wijnaldum is already undergoing his medical ahead of completing the switch.
The Dutchman has been available for nothing after leaving fellow Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq at the end of last season.
But his expected move to Al-Ittihad comes just days after he was tipped for a shock return to the Premier League with Chelsea.
Reports claimed the Blues had made contact over a possible short-term deal after Xabi Alonso was left short of options in midfield.
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Chelsea sold Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City for £125million before seeing a deadline-day move for Monaco ace Lamine Camara collapse.
That led to Wijnaldum emerging as a possible free-agent solution, with his huge amount of Premier League experience making him an attractive option.
The midfielder spent five years at Liverpool after joining from Newcastle in 2016, making 237 appearances and scoring 22 goals.
He became a key man under Jurgen Klopp and won the Premier League, Champions League, Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup during a trophy-laden spell at Anfield.
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Wijnaldum later joined Paris Saint-Germain before spending time on loan at Roma and then moving to Al-Ettifaq in 2023, where he enjoyed three seasons in Saudi Arabia.
And after scoring 17 times in 34 league appearances last term, Wijnaldum now looks set to remain in the Middle East with Al-Ittihad – ending any immediate hopes of a surprise Chelsea switch.