David Hancko Set to Depart Feyenoord for Saudi Arabia in Potential Record-Breaking Transfer

David Hancko may be set to leave Feyenoord for a lucrative opportunity in Saudi Arabia, according to reports from the Netherlands. The Slovakian defender has piqued the interest of Al-Nassr, the club where Cristiano Ronaldo currently plays.

The potential transfer of Hancko has been a topic of conversation during several transfer windows. Juventus officials have acknowledged their interest in the Slovakian defender, while last summer, strong links to Atlético Madrid also emerged.

The former Sparta Prague player has been mentioned in connection with several prominent Premier League teams, including a potential reunion with his former coach Arne Slot at Liverpool.

This time, however, for the first instance, a club from outside Europe is making a play for the player.

Al Nassr is reportedly eager to entice Hancko to the Middle East with an attractive financial package. The Saudi club is prepared to make him the most expensive outgoing transfer in Feyenoord’s history, surpassing the previous record set by Santiago Giménez’s transfer to AC Milan for €32 million in January.

Hancko’s market value aligns closely with that figure. Fortunately for Feyenoord, the defender remains under contract until the summer of 2028, alleviating concerns about losing a key player for free. Previous attempts by Atlético to spark negotiations with a €15 million bid were met with disinterest, seen as inadequate by the Rotterdam club.

Financial muscle is not an issue for Al Nassr, who pays Ronaldo an impressive €200 million annually and acquired Jhon Durán from Aston Villa for €77 million in the winter transfer window. The revenue from Hancko’s potential transfer could significantly benefit Sparta.

This season, the Slovak centre-back has contributed directly to six goals across all competitions, maintaining an impressive average rating of 7.2 in the league. Clubs interested in securing his services recognise his availability; it was only in January that he broke a streak of 83 consecutive starts since his debut. Since then, he has diligently continued to start in every match again.

Feyenoord seems to have accepted that Hancko is likely to depart in the summer, especially since he has openly expressed a preference for a summer move.