War-Torn Football Club Shakhtar Donetsk Looks to Saudi Arabia for Financial Boost
- Shakhtar Donetsk president discussing tie-ups with Saudi clubs
- Ukrainian club has been hammered by war and then FIFA ruling
Players of FC Shakhtar Donetsk line up before a game against FC Metalist 1925 Kharkiv at the Arena Lviv on Dec. 3.
Photographer: Anastasiia Smolienko/Ukrinform/Future Publishing/Getty Images
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FC Shakhtar Donetsk, a Champions League regular that hasn’t played a game at home in Ukraine for nearly a decade, is turning to Saudi Arabia for a financial boost.
Club CEO Serhii Palkin has engaged Geneva-based sports advisory firm LTT Sports, which has a base in Jeddah, to discuss deals with clubs in the Saudi Pro League including FC Al Taawoun. The aim is to sign lucrative player transfers and organize exhibition matches in the Gulf nation next season.