Al-Ahli Jeddah are close to signing the young French midfielder Babi Cabral from Monaco, according to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.
Babi Cabral
Club: Monaco
The report clarified that negotiations for this surprising deal accelerated rapidly in recent hours, amid the French club's need to generate financial liquidity following the failure of several sales it had relied upon as the European transfer window closed.
Al-Ahli Jeddah's management contacted Monaco's administration to secure the services of Cabral, aged 19, before talks between the two parties quickly advanced. An agreement is now imminent for a permanent transfer worth €10 million, approximately SAR 44 million.
Monaco's move comes following the collapse of their American striker Folarin Balogun's transfer to Everton in the final hours of the English market, a deal from which the French club had expected to secure a significant portion of the liquidity needed to balance its accounts.
Monaco faces financial pressures linked to the necessity of achieving financial balance and meeting the requirements of the regulatory body overseeing French clubs. This has prompted them to act swiftly and consider letting go of one of their most promising young players, even though Cabral was viewed as a key element in the team's project.
The Saudi transfer window, which remains open after the closure of markets in several European leagues, provides Monaco with an opportunity to complete additional sales. This has made Al-Ahli Jeddah's offer an option that could serve both parties should a final agreement be reached.
The possibility of Cabral's departure gains additional significance given that Monaco had announced on August 6 last year the extension of the player's contract until June 30, 2031, a move reflecting the club's commitment to his long-term future, before Al-Ahli Jeddah's offer emerged less than a month after the renewal.
Cabral joined the Monaco academy during the 2022-2023 season from CS Manfvillie and was an influential element in the club's victory in the 2023 Gambardella Cup for youth, having scored in the semi-final against Nantes and then netting another goal in the final against Clermont.
The French midfielder subsequently progressed through the youth ranks, playing 22 matches for the Under-19 team. He also represented the France Under-17 national team, participating in the European Championship for that category. Later, he began approaching the Monaco first team after playing with the club's elite group.
Cabral made his first-team debut on September 27, 2025, against Lorient, before earning additional appearances throughout the season, including a match against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League.
He ended the 2025-2026 season with six appearances for the first team, according to Monaco's official data.
The player was part of the team's preparations for the current season and participated in friendly matches against Saint-Priest, Sporting Lisbon, and Cercle Brugge, indicating his inclusion in Monaco's plans before financial circumstances changed in the final days of the transfer window.
Conversely, Cabral was not included in Monaco's squad for their latest match against Olympique Marseille, which ended in a 2-0 victory for the Emirate's team. A few days later, L'Équipe newspaper revealed that Al-Ahli Jeddah had entered advanced negotiations to sign him.
