Arab football transfer news: Sellami to Al-Fateh, Kouki back at Sfaxien
Al-Fateh appointed Jamal Sellami, CS Sfaxien brought back Mohamed Kouki, Al-Shorta named Hussein Abdulwahid and Al-Nassr renewed four young players including Abdulrahman Sufyani.
Arab football transfer news this month has been dominated by the dugout. Saudi Pro League side Al-Fateh appointed Moroccan coach Jamal Sellami on 8 October 2026, Tunisia's CS Sfaxien turned back to Mohamed Kouki on 12 October, and Iraqi giants Al-Shorta named Hussein Abdulwahid as head coach on 15 October. Off the bench, Al-Nassr secured new contracts for four young players, including Al-Hilal target Abdulrahman Sufyani. Every move in this round-up has been officially announced by the clubs concerned.
Al-Fateh appoint Jamal Sellami as head coach
Al-Fateh officially named Jamal Sellami as head coach on Thursday 8 October 2026, TuttoMercatoWeb reported. The announcement followed formal approval from the Saudi Pro League's financial oversight body. According to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah, Sellami signed a one-season deal; the club did not disclose financial terms.
He replaces Khaled Al-Atwi, whose contract was ended by mutual consent after poor results, according to Asharq Al-Awsat. Al-Atwi had only been appointed on 21 July. When the change was made, Al-Fateh were 15th with three points from three draws and four defeats, and Sellami could make his debut against Al-Ahli in round eight.
Sellami's recent record
Sellami arrives after being dismissed by the Jordan Football Association, following Jordan's group-stage exit at the 2026 World Cup, where they lost to Argentina, Algeria and Austria. Before that he had led Jordan to the 2025 Arab Cup final, which they lost to Morocco. He began coaching in 2010 as an assistant in Morocco's national-team set-up, later coached Raja Casablanca, and also took charge of Morocco's home-based (CHAN) team.
The task is significant. Yalla Shoot's Saudi Pro League table, updated on 16 October, has Al-Fateh 16th with six points from nine games (one win, three draws, five defeats), having scored seven and conceded 17. The Al-Hasa club, based in the Eastern Province, won the Saudi league title in 2012-13, but the immediate objective is clearly to climb away from danger.
Al-Nassr keep Sufyani and three other young talents
Al-Nassr announced on their official X account on 8 October 2026 new contracts for four young players: Abdulrahman Al-Anzi, Yousef Al-Tahan, Fawaz Al-Mashhour and Abdulrahman Sufyani, Goal reported. Contract lengths were not disclosed.
The most notable name is Sufyani, for whom this is a second renewal with the club. Al-Hilal have tried twice to sign him: first while he was at Al-Kawkab, when Al-Nassr won the race in January 2023, and again when he became a free agent, before Al-Nassr extended his deal. In a rivalry as fierce as the Riyadh derby, keeping a player the other side wanted carries extra weight.
Al-Nassr also added Tunisian youngster Yassine Salam from Al-Ettifaq and goalkeeper Abdulhadi Al-Alwan, on loan from Al-Fateh until the end of the season, for their elite youth league squad. Saudi clubs have invested more in youth development in recent seasons alongside high-profile foreign signings. In the league, Al-Nassr are third with 19 points from eight games, two behind Al-Hilal.
CS Sfaxien bring back Mohamed Kouki
CS Sfaxien announced on 12 October 2026 the appointment of Mohamed Kouki as first-team head coach until the end of the current season. It came hours after the club confirmed the mutual termination of Nabil Kouki's contract and that of his staff, following a 1-0 defeat to Takdim Saqiyat al-Da'ir in round five of the Tunisian league. That result left Sfaxien sixth with eight points from two wins, two draws and one defeat.
Mohamed Kouki officially took charge on Tuesday 13 October, leading training, according to dpa via Al Raya. He knows the club well: he coached Sfaxien last season and led them to third place in the league. He has also worked in Algeria, including at CR Belouizdad. The club said the full new coaching staff would be announced later. Sfaxien, based in Sfax, are among Tunisia's most decorated clubs, with multiple CAF Confederation Cup titles.
Al-Shorta name Hussein Abdulwahid after Trabelsi exit
In Iraq, Al-Shorta confirmed Hussein Abdulwahid as their new first-team head coach on 15 October 2026. He replaces former Tunisia national-team coach Sami Trabelsi, whose contract was ended by mutual consent after a decline in results. Contract terms were not disclosed.
Al-Shorta were fifth in the Iraqi league with 16 points from nine matches (four wins, four draws, one defeat), seven points behind leaders Al-Karmah, who had 23 points under Egyptian coach Moamen Soliman. For a Baghdad club that is among Iraq's most successful, with several recent league titles, that gap was clearly considered too large.
Arab mercato round-up: key facts
| Club | Move | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Fateh (KSA) | Jamal Sellami appointed, one-season deal | 8 Oct | Official |
| Al-Nassr (KSA) | Renewals for Sufyani, Al-Anzi, Al-Tahan, Al-Mashhour | 8 Oct | Official |
| CS Sfaxien (TUN) | Mohamed Kouki replaces Nabil Kouki, until end of season | 12 Oct | Official |
| Al-Shorta (IRQ) | Hussein Abdulwahid replaces Sami Trabelsi | 15 Oct | Official |
What these changes tell us
Three of the four stories are coaching changes made early in the season, a reminder of how little patience clubs in the region have when results dip. Al-Fateh changed coach after only seven league games, Sfaxien after five, and Al-Shorta after nine. In two cases, Sfaxien and Al-Fateh, the clubs opted for coaches with a track record: Kouki already knows the Sfaxien dressing room, while Sellami brings recent international experience.
- Longest stated deal: Mohamed Kouki, until the end of the season; Sellami signed for one season (Al-Riyadiyah).
- Undisclosed terms: Al-Nassr renewals and Al-Shorta contract.
- Coaches replaced: Khaled Al-Atwi, Nabil Kouki, Sami Trabelsi.
What's next
Sellami's priority is points to lift Al-Fateh out of the bottom places, while Mohamed Kouki will want an immediate reaction in Tunisia's top flight, and Abdulwahid must close the gap on Al-Karmah. Sfaxien are still due to name the rest of their coaching staff, and Al-Nassr's young players will hope to push for first-team chances.