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As the transfer window comes to a close, one move that has gone under the radar is Al-Hilal’s signing of Rennes’ teenage striker Mohamed Kader Meite.<\/b><\/p>\n
The 18-year-old Frenchman has joined the Saudi Pro League club for a reported 30m euros (\u00a325.9m), which makes him the second-highest non-Premier League signing of the transfer window, only beaten by Lucas Paqueta’s return to Flamengo<\/a> from West Ham United.<\/p>\n Meite has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal, despite reported interest from a number of Premier League clubs after impressing in France’s Ligue 1.<\/p>\n “It is notable because Manchester United were reportedly linked before Al-Hilal’s huge bid got the deal done,” Football Transfers’ Paul MacDonald told BBC Sport.<\/p>\n “It also solidifies the Saudis’ statement of intent. They are going to go big on young talent this summer and Meite’s purchase is the first domino to fall.”<\/p>\n Meite, who is French-born but of Ivorian descent, came through Rennes’ youth set-up before breaking into the first team and signing his first professional contract at the club in November 2024.<\/p>\n The forward made his senior debut shortly after, as a substitute in a 2-0 league defeat by Toulouse, and has since made 32 appearances for the club – scoring five goals and registering two assists.<\/p>\n Meite has also represented France at four different youth levels.<\/p>\n “He is a wonderful talent,” said French football expert Julien Laurens. “It is a bit of a shame that he has gone to Saudi Arabia, but the money they offered was good for him.<\/p>\n “I don’t think he will stay there for long – he will end up in the Premier League at some point.<\/p>\n “Maybe a few English clubs thought ‘Let’s see how he does in another environment before we bring him to the Premier League’ – but he does have huge potential.”<\/p>\n Laurens also described Meite as a “modern number nine” who is “strong, quick, hungry and good on the ball”.<\/p>\n He is not the only player heading out of Rennes though, with the club closing in on another high-value sale.<\/p>\n