TNS striker Young makes Saudi Arabia move

Brad Young is set to leave TNS before their Europa Conference League group campaign starts at Fiorentina on 3 October

The New Saints striker Brad Young, Welsh football’s leading goalscorer last season, has signed for Saudi Pro League club Al-Orobah for a £190,000 fee.

Young, 21, was the Cymru Premier's golden boot winner for 2023-24 after his 22 goals helped TNS to the Welsh double.

The Aston Villa academy graduate scored twice on his European debut over the summer as part of the run that saw Craig Harrison's side eventually secure a historic place in the Europa Conference League group stage.

But he has completed a switch to Saudi Arabia in what is being described as a record fee for the Welsh top flight.

The deal is a blow to the Welsh champions, who will face Fiorentina and Panathinaikos in Europe following their successful qualification.

The Oswestry-based Saints, who secured a 16th Welsh title in an unbeaten campaign last season, had been aware of interest in Young earlier in the summer.

Despite being keen to hold on to the league's young player of the season, TNS chairman Mike Harris said the forward was offered an “exceptional” deal to make the switch.

"It's life changing for him and his family," Harris told BBC Radio Wales' Breakfast programme.

"We're not a club who are really looking to sell players but ultimately the offer to the young man was extemely good and it does help put our club and the Welsh league on the map, because it's not normal for big transfer fees to be involved when it comes to Welsh Premier sides.

"We'd had a lot of enquiries about Brad with scouts appearing at our games last season, obviously the talent of the young man was there to be seen.

"So we weren't surprised but we're probably a little suprised at the speed the deal came around, obviously with preparing for Europe during the summer it would have been a lot more convenient if the enquiry had happened in May."

Al-Orobah, based in Sakakah, were promoted to the Pro League last season and have begun strengthening the squad, completing the loan signing of Kurt Zouma over the weekend.

Former Fulham and Hull midfielder Jean Michael Seri and Burnley forward Johann Berg Gudmundsson will also be team-mates to Young.

Young signed for TNS in September 2023 following his release from Villa, where he had been part of the side that won the FA Youth Cup in 2021.

Born in Solihull, he recovered from a serious knife attack during his youth team days at Villa that he feared would wreck his career ambitions.