Dougie Freedman's Next Move: From Crystal Palace to Saudi Arabia's Sports Vision

Dougie Freedman, the Crystal Palace sporting director, has announced his departure from the club this summer, with potential plans to take up a prominent position in Saudi Arabia. Freedman, who has been a pivotal figure at Palace as a player, manager, and in his current role since 2017, has been instrumental in the recruitment of key players like Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Adam Wharton, and Dean Henderson.

Sources close to the situation reveal that Freedman has been offered the role of head of sport with the Diriyah Company, which owns Al-Diriyah, a team in the Saudi second division. This position is understood to be multi-disciplinary, where Freedman would shape the performance philosophy across up to seven other sports under the Diriyah Company umbrella.

The move to Saudi Arabia has been in the works for at least a month, with discussions accelerating over the past week. Freedman is expected to continue on a consultancy basis with Palace over the summer before making his departure. His influence at Palace has been significant, with Steve Parish, the club's chairman, stating that Freedman has been "instrumental in everything we have done over the past eight years."

Freedman himself expressed optimism about the club's future, stating, "To be leaving the club with a squad full of exciting talent led by an excellent manager, I truly believe the foundations are in place to be built upon."

In the interim, Iain Moody, who works closely with Palace's recruitment operation on a consultancy basis, will take on a more prominent role at the club. However, as of now, there is no direct replacement for Freedman.

This potential move marks a significant shift in Dougie Freedman's career, as he looks to influence sports on a broader scale in the Middle East, leveraging his vast experience in football and sports management.