Lingard, the former Manchester United midfielder, is reportedly open to the possibility of joining the Saudi Pro League for his next career move. Lingard is currently without a club after being released by Nottingham Forest at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season.
Following his departure from Manchester United, the former England international joined Forest on a free transfer last summer, signing a one-year contract. However, despite featuring in 14 of Forest’s first 17 league matches, Lingard fell out of favor and made only three appearances in the remaining 21 top-flight games.
Now a free agent, Lingard is exploring his options and has not ruled out the prospect of joining the growing number of players who have made the move to the Saudi Pro League.
In an interview with Sky Sports News, Lingard expressed his openness to different possibilities, stating, “I’m considering all options. I’ve never ruled out any team or club, so for me, it’s about picking the right team that suits me. I just want to play football at the end of the day, and that’s all I want to do.”
Lingard acknowledged that Saudi Arabia is making significant strides in football and becoming an attractive destination for players. He stated, “Saudi Arabia is doing big things, and in the next couple of years, it could become one of the hotspots to go to. I’m not really surprised that big names are moving there. Like I said, they’re doing big things, and it’s something I would consider as well. I haven’t ruled it out either. It has to be the right fit for me. I have to go with my gut feeling, but I’m still hungry and striving for success.”
The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia recently acquired ownership of the country’s top four clubs – Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli. They have been actively investing in the transfer market, attracting several players from the Premier League, including N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Ruben Neves.
As Lingard weighs his options, the possibility of a move to the Saudi Pro League remains on the table, with the midfielder emphasizing the importance of finding the right project and regular playing time to continue his career.
