Winful leaves Hearts for Saudi in $150,000 deal

Playmaker Winful Cobbinah is on the verge of completing a move to Saudi Arabian topflight side Najran SC after agreeing a $150,000 fee with Accra Hearts of Oak, footy-Ghana.com can authoritatively confirm.

Footy-Ghana has confirmed that the top hierarchy of the Phobian club has sealed the deal for the fee which coincidentally defrays their cost of recruitment of new players for the 2014/15 season with the 19-year old expected to leave Ghana for his new club in the coming days.

Hearts of Oak we understand has previously rejected several ‘below par’ offers for the skilful attacker who excelled in the number 10 role last season but decided to give in to the offer from Najran to avoid losing him out on a free as he enters the final part of his three-year contract.

Cobbinah upon his arrival under former Coach CK Akunnor in summer 2012 struggled with 'life at a big club' – joining Hearts from Division One side Starke FC. He however enjoyed a breakthrough season in his second year when Coach David Duncan (another ex-Hearts gaffer) took over and boosted his confidence. Coupled with his exciting display, he managed to score six leagues goals for the Phobians during the 2013/14 season.

Najran SC is a Saudi Professional League side managed by 50-year-old former Cameroon national team French coach Denis Lavagne. The team currently lies 11th on the league log after six games into the 2014/15 season.

FootyGhana is however unable to confirm the duration of the deal agreed by the player and his representative with the side who gained promotion to the Saudi elite division in 2007 but understands Cobbinah could be in line for his debut in a home fixture at the Al-Ukhdood Stadium in the city of Najran against Al Faisaly on October 16.