Leipzig blocks Orban’s Saudi move after Koné’s injury shock

Willi Orbán had agreed a two‑year contract with Saudi Arabian club Al‑Diriyah FC, a move that would have earned the 33‑year‑old roughly €13.2 million, and was due to complete his medical on Monday after signing the deal, the Hungarian international prepared to leave RB Leipzig.

The transfer collapsed after new RB Leipzig defender Abdoul Koné suffered a shoulder injury in training, prompting the club to withdraw its approval for the move.

Koné, who arrived from Stade Reims this summer, made his unofficial debut in a 2‑1 friendly win over VSG Altglienicke before missing the Saturday 1‑0 victory over FC Ingolstadt. he will not need surgery but is expected to be sidelined for several weeks. Sky Germany journalists on X highlighted the timing of the injury as the decisive factor.

Leipzig have decided not to sign another centre‑back in response, opting instead to retain Orbán as experienced cover while Koné recovers. The club’s immediate defensive needs outweigh any further recruitment.

Orbán is entering the final year of his Leipzig contract and has amassed 385 competitive appearances since joining from 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 2015, second only to former striker Yussuf Poulsen in club history. His presence offers stability in the back line during Koné’s absence.

He faced competition from Lukas Klostermann, Castello Lukeba, Maxime Estève and El Chadaille Bitshiabu, with Lukeba also linked to a summer exit, underscoring Leipzig’s reluctance to lose another central defender.

The halted deal means Orbán misses a lucrative late‑career opportunity in the Saudi Pro League, while Al‑Diriyah’s pursuit remains uncertain until Koné returns to fitness.