Al Fateh gives up on a Moroccan player to keep Karl Toko-Ekambi | OneFootball

The Saudi club wants to keep its Cameroonian player.

Al Fateh gives up on a Moroccan player to keep Karl Toko-Ekambi

A new chapter is beginning for Saudi club Al Fateh, but for Moroccan international Amine Sbaï, his story with the team has reached an abrupt conclusion. What was first revealed as a shifting dynamic has now been cemented into a definitive decision by the club's management.

This past Thursday marked the official end of Sbaï's brief tenure, as Al Fateh's directors formally removed the winger from their first-team roster. This strategic move was made to free up a crucial foreign player slot, paving the way for the official registration of their new signing, Camerounian striker Karl Toko-Ekambi. The writing had been on the wall since early July, when our exclusive report indicated that the 26-year-old had fallen out of favor with Portuguese manager José Gomes.

Sbaï's departure closes a challenging stint in the Saudi League that lasted less than a year. Arriving with high ambitions, the Moroccan talent struggled to ever truly secure a foothold in the squad, often finding himself overshadowed by the established presence of Argentine attacker Cristian Vargas on the same flank.

Our sources confirm that Gomes was unequivocal in his communication with the club's hierarchy, expressing a firm desire to part ways with Sbaï during this summer's transfer window. This opened the door for an exit, whether through a loan move to regain form or a permanent transfer to a new club. The management acted decisively on their coach's wishes, swiftly clearing the path to bring in a veteran presence. In Toko-Ekambi, a player with seasoned experience from top European leagues including Lyon, Villarreal, and Rennes, Al Fateh believes they have found the proven quality they need.