Saudis pounce for Goodwin in likely blow to Adelaide

Adelaide United face losing key winger Craig Goodwin to Saudi Pro League side Al-Wehda in a likely hammer blow ahead of the new A-League season.

Having rejected a move to the Korea Republic back in January, the 27-year-old Socceroo is understood to have agreed terms with the club which finished seventh on the ladder last season to potentially leave new coach Gertjan Verbeek with a huge hole to fill.

In his second coming with the Reds, Adelaide-born Goodwin is one year into a three-season deal and was a standout last season with 10 goals and nine assists.

It’s understood Al Wehda have offered $450,000 to trigger the buyout clause in Goodwin’s contract.

He was recalled to the Socceroos squad off the back of last season’s form, which included a string of spectacular goals after rejoining the Reds following a two-year spell in the Eredivisie with Sparta Rotterdam.

Goodwin picked up his fourth cap during last month’s 1-0 loss to Korea Republic in Busan, and if the move goes through he will join fellow Socceroos Milos Degenek (Al-Hilal) and Matt Jurman (Al-Ittihad) in the Kingdom’s top tier, with Rhys Williams and Jack Duncan on the books of relegated Al-Qadsiah.

Goodwin’s impending departure follows close on the heels of captain Isaías Sánchez’s exit to Qatari club Al-Wakrah in what would be a double whammy for the Reds.

Adelaide were approached for comment by The World Game.