Al Khaobar, July 21, 2025 – Mateo Retegui has sealed a high-profile transfer to Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah from Atalanta, with the 26-year-old striker signing a four-year contract. While neither club disclosed financial details, multiple Italian outlets report the fee to be around €65 million ($76m), making Retegui the most expensive Italian footballer in history.
The Argentine-born forward spent just one season at Atalanta, arriving from Genoa as a stand-in for the injured Gianluca Scamacca. He proved to be a revelation in Bergamo, finishing as Serie A’s top scorer with 25 goals and playing a pivotal role in Atalanta’s third-place finish.
Retegui, who represents Italy through his grandparents, made his international debut under Roberto Mancini in 2023, scoring against England. Since then, he has netted six goals in 20 caps for the Azzurri.
His arrival at Al-Qadsiah comes just days after the departure of Gabon international Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored 21 goals in 36 appearances during his one-season spell in Saudi Arabia. Retegui’s signing signals Al-Qadsiah’s intent to strengthen their attack as they aim to climb the ranks in the Pro League.