Former German national team player relocates to Saudi Arabia
In a surprising turn of events, German football star Dzsenifer Marozsán has decided to join the Saudi Women's Premier League (SWPL), marking a significant move for women's football in the region. Marozsán, a former Olympique Lyon player, will now play for Al-Qadsiah WFC.
Marozsán's decision to join the SWPL is a departure from her previous stint at Olympique Lyon. The 31-year-old midfielder, who has 112 caps in her international career and ended it in 2021, has made a name for herself in European football, having won the European Championship in 2013 and the Olympics in 2016 with the German national team.
The SWPL, launched in 2022, is part of a broader "quiet revolution" in Saudi women's football that seeks to inspire young girls and grow the sport domestically. It has attracted international players by offering professional contracts, new challenges, and the chance to be pioneers in establishing women's football in a previously restrictive environment.
The league's growth and investment signal long-term prospects that appeal to professional athletes despite the complex human rights context. This mirrors similar trends in other leagues worldwide where players weigh career, financial incentives, and the opportunity to promote the sport over political or social concerns.
Al-Qadsiah WFC, Marozsán's new team, finished in third place in the last season. The Gulf state, which is set to host the men’s World Cup in 2034, has recently attracted several male professionals with lucrative contracts. It seems that the SWPL is following a similar trend, offering Marozsán a lucrative contract, the details of which were not disclosed.
Marozsán will wear the number 66 jersey at Al-Qadsiah WFC. Her transfer fee is reported to be $28 million, a significant sum in women's football. This move is likely to bring more attention to the SWPL and may influence other European players to consider joining the league in the future.
Interestingly, Marozsán will reunite with Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir, her former teammate at Lyon, at Al-Qadsiah WFC. Despite the controversy surrounding the Saudi league's human rights record and women's rights issues, Marozsán's transfer to the SWPL is driven by the professional opportunities, pioneering role in a new league, and the country’s investment in women's football as part of Vision 2030.
While the SWPL is gaining more attention due to high-profile transfers like Marozsán's, it is worth noting that she is one of the few European players to join the league. This move by Marozsán is unexpected but could pave the way for more European players to consider joining the SWPL in the future.
Marozsán's move to the Saudi Women's Premier League (SWPL) marks a shift for a renowned European footballer, given her success in European leagues, particularly in football and with the German national team. Despite the league's human rights controversies and women's rights issues, the professional opportunities, the chance to pioneer a new league, and Saudi Arabia's investment in women's football may entice more European players to consider joining the SWPL.
