Wijnaldum spent three years playing the Saudi Pro League Yasser Bakhsh via Getty ImagesAug. 22, 2026 Updated 3:50 pm EDTReal Salt Lake have held talks with Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic.Sources say Wijnaldum was impressed by the club and would be open to a move to MLS, but there is no agreement imminent. This was first reported by TalkSport.Wijnaldum, 35, is a free agent after departing Al-Ettifaq this summer, having spent just under three seasons with the Middle Eastern club.Wijnaldum left former club Al Ettifaq in July (Yasser Bakhsh via Getty Images)The former Dutch international made 96 caps for his country. He began his career at Feyenoord before moving to PSV. He joined Newcastle in the summer of 2015 before joining Liverpool the next summer.Wijnaldum is best known for his time at Liverpool, where he made 237 appearances and was a key player in the team that won a Champions League and Premier League title.
After leaving Liverpool, he had spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Roma before joining Al-Ettifaq in the summer of 2023.Real Salt Lake just transferred winger Zavier Gozo to Crystal Palace for a club-record fee worth nearly $15 million, as first reported by The Athletic. The club features U.S. international Diego Luna and former Lens attacker Morgan Guilavogui.The club has had a strong 2026 season but is looking to reinforce the team this summer before the window closes on September 2, particularly after the departure of Gozo.
