'I just started laughing' - Ex-PSV full-back explains why he accepted 'ridiculously high' Saudi Arabia offer at 20 years old amid claims of 100x salary boost

Dams completed a €10 million (£9m/$11m) move from PSV to Al-Ahli in January, with his salary receiving a massive boost in the process. The full-back was in the final six months of his PSV contract and negotiating an extension when Al-Ahli swooped in to seal the deal.

Dams featured 15 times across all competitions for Al-Ahli last season, registering one assist and contributing to seven clean sheets. His solid displays were key in helping the club lift the prestigious 2024-25 AFC Champions League title. 

The Belgian admitted that he initially said he would not move to Saudi Arabia if an offer came in, especially at just 20 years old, but the salary on offer was too high for him to turn down, with reports in Netherlands claiming he went from earning €2,500 per month to €250,000.

"It was the end of January. I was in full talks with PSV, where the plan was actually to extend my contract. One phone call changed everything," he told HLN.

"I'm not usually much of a caller, but I was in the car and saw a message from Jorik [Benoit], my agent, come in: 'Matteo, I have to call you, this is really important.' On the phone, he told me about Al-Ahli's interest. At first, I thought it was a joke. It turned out to be serious. I initially assumed it was a summer transfer, but they wanted me right away. So I barely had a week and a half to think about it.

Honestly? I was already convinced after the phone call with Jorik. Obviously, because I knew what I could earn in Saudi Arabia, but also because Al-Ahli really wanted me. I felt that immediately, and I thought that was very important. The coach was completely behind my arrival. I was just afraid of what people, especially those around me, would say. You know the prejudices: that I'd choose the money, that I'd throw my career away, that the level here is terrible. But in the end, it was me who had to come here to play football, so I had to be completely committed to my decision. So I said yes."

Asked for his reaction after seeing the contract, he said: "I just started laughing. Because those were ridiculously high amounts for a 20-year-old. Not just for a 20-year-old. I never discuss amounts. I understand why people ask the question; I would have been curious too if one of my friends went to Saudi Arabia. But actually, the questions about that aren't that bad. It's rarely, if ever, discussed in the locker room.

Take Riyadh Mahrez, for example. Of course, all his teammates know he earns an incredible amount of money, but it's never discussed."

Dams will be aiming for another successful season with Al-Ahli, chasing more trophies while also hoping his performances secure him a spot in Belgium’s 2026 World Cup squad.