On November 17, Beijing time, Saudi media disclosed that Malcolm Malcolm, a scorer in the Chinese Super League, is about to say goodbye to Wuhan Sanzhen and move to Jeddah Nationals of the Saudi Arabia's second-tier league. According to reliable sources, Jeddah Nationals has reached an agreement with the Brazilian foreign aid, and Malcolm completed his medical checkup on Monday, local time, and is expected to integrate into the team and put in training soon. Malcolm shone in the 2022 Chinese Super League season, contributing to Wuhan Three Town's title win while being honored as the top scorer. He scored 27 goals and had three assists in 26 games, averaging more than a goal a game. In the match against Beijing Guoan, he broke the deadlock with a brilliant free kick, becoming the 12th player in Chinese Super League history to achieve this feat. Standing at 1.96 meters tall, Malcolm is known for his excellent physical fitness and strong impact, like a "heavy tank" on the battlefield. His header, footwork and sense of smell are all excellent, and he even has the ability to take direct free kicks. This season, Malcolm's performance has made many media and fans call for Chinese soccer to bring in more similar centers. According to FIFA regulations, Malcolm will be eligible for naturalization at the beginning of 2024, when he is expected to be a key player for the national soccer team at the 2026 World Cup. On January 5, Malcom announced on social media that he would return to Brazil for a vacation and forgo playing in the upcoming FA Cup match. If the Saudi media reports are true, Malcolm will miss his naturalization opportunity. It is worth noting that Jeddah National are not a top-tier Saudi Arabian side, having entered the second tier for the first time in the 2021/2022 season. The team was demoralized at the time due to wage arrears and were eventually relegated with 6 wins, 14 draws and 10 losses. Paulinho, who played for Guangzhou, had joined Jeddah National on a free after leaving China and signed a three-year contract with the team. However, Paulinho's contract was terminated after less than two months at Jeddah National due to the club's chaotic management and unpaid wages. This lesson has left many Chinese fans worried about Malcolm's future with Jeddah National. Malcolm's current contract with Wuhan Sanzhen expires at the end of 2023. According to the German Transfer Market, Jeddah National will have to pay Wuhan Sanzhen a transfer fee to bring Malcolm to the club. In the latest player valuation, Malcom's market value has reached 4.5 million euros. Wuhan Sanzhen have not yet issued a statement on the matter.
