Qatar’s Al Sadd have signed South Korean attacking midfielder Nam Tae-hee from domestic rivals Al Duhail on a three-year contract.
Nam, who is currently recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, will join Qatar Stars League (QSL) leaders Al Sadd in the 2019-20 season.
Nam, who made his pro debut with French side Valenciennes in 2009, is highly regarded in Qatar.
He won five QSL titles and two Qatar Amir Cup trophies since moving there in 2012. In 2017, Nam was named the MVP of the league.
The 27-year-old will join compatriot Jung Woo-young at Al Sadd. He will also team up with Spanish stars Xavi Hernandez and Gabi Fernandez.
Al Sadd currently have a two-point lead over reigning QSL champions Al Duhail with the 2018-19 season to resume on February 15 after a two-month break.
Their 2019 AFC Champions League season will also kick-off next month with Al Sadd drawn in Group D with Iran’s Persepolis, Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli and a play-off winner.
Nam’s exit from Al Duhail was somewhat expected as the club recently signed Japanese attacker Shoya Nakajima.
Nam suffered the torn ACL in his right knee during South Korea’s friendly match against Uzbekistan in November, forcing him to miss the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, where the East Asians campaign ended in the quarter-final. Nam has six goals in 44 appearances for Korea Republic.
Meanwhile, Japanese international Shoya Nakajima is eager to get his Al Duhail career started after signing for the Qatar Stars League champions.
Al Duhail recently announced the signing of Nakajima from Portuguese top-flight side Portimonense on a four and a half years contract, having earlier strengthened their ranks by bringing in Morocco international Medhi Benatia from Italian giants Juventus.
Nakajima said he was excited about the transfer. “I made the decision because everything about the club was attractive,” the 24-year-old attacker said.
Nakajima is a welcome addition to the Al Duhail ranks as they get set to resume their league campaign following a two-month break for the AFC Asian Cup.
Al Duhail went into the break in second place, two points behind Al Sadd after 15 matches. They will play their first game at home on February 16.
“It’s important to show what I can do on the pitch. I want to contribute in every match,” Nakajima, who will be wearing the No 10 jersey, said.
The former FC Tokyo player was included in Japan’s AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 squad but a calf injury forced his withdrawal. After having missed out on the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, Nakajima has emerged as a key player under Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu.
Ironically for Nakajima, Japan lost 3-1 to Qatar in the UAE 2019 final and among his teammates at Al Duhail will be tournament MVP Almoez Ali, whose spectacular opener against the Samurai Blue saw him setting a new AFC Asian Cup record of nine goals, one more than the previous record of eight held by Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ali Daei.
Besides helping Al Duhail’s domestic campaign, Nakajima will also be counted on to spearhead the Qatar’s club’s 2019 AFC Champions League challenge.
They are in Group C with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, Al Ain of the UAE and Iran’s Esteghlal FC, who they face in the opening tie on March 6.
Al Duhail’s 2018 campaign was ended by Iran’s Persepolis in the quarter-finals but with Nakajima in the ranks, the Qatar club will be aiming for a more successful 2019.
Nam Tae-hee poses with Al Sadd GM Turki al-Ali after inking a deal with the top Qatar side for three years.
