Al Nassr enter the 2026-27 season as Saudi Pro League champions, finishing last term on 86 points to edge Al Hilal by two, but the opening weeks have been defined as much by off-pitch turbulence as by title celebrations. Cristiano Ronaldo, the club's captain, will miss at least the first two league fixtures after his wedding to Georgina Rodriguez, with reports confirming his return to Riyadh is imminent but delayed. New head coach Ange Postecoglou inherits a squad still being assembled under genuine financial strain, with unofficial reports placing the club's debt at around 800 million Saudi riyals. The Saudi Pro League held a press conference to clarify the financial regulations that allowed Al Nassr to complete the signing of Portuguese midfielder Samo Costa from Real Mallorca despite those obligations.

The goalkeeper position has become one of the most complicated files of the summer. Al Nassr missed out on Saudi international Mohammed Al-Owais, who returned to Al Hilal, and are now navigating uncertainty around Nawaf Al-Aqidi, who has attracted interest from Al Shabab. The club has renewed the contract of Raghad Al-Najjar as cover, and reports link them to France and AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan as a potential high-profile addition. There are also reports that Spanish defenders Bento and Inigo Martinez could be reclassified under the Asian quota for the new season, a move that would free up foreign slots for further recruitment. Al Nassr host Al Fateh at Al-Awwal Park on August 15 in their first home league game of the new campaign, a fixture that will test how well Postecoglou's side functions without their captain.