From the Cymru Premier to Cristiano Ronaldo - Young on shock Saudi move

From aureate footwear to aureate opportunity, Brad Young admits his life is astir to change.

Welsh home football’s starring scorer past season, Young would person expected liking pursuing his breakthrough performances for The New Saints.

What possibly he and galore much would not person predicted was that nan connection would travel to nan Cymru Premier champions from nan Saudi Pro-League, progressively football’s onshore of high-profile stars – and moreover higher wages.

And so, connected nan aforesaid play nan Welsh champions and his aged squad are preparing to look Briton Ferry Llansawel astatine nan commencement of adjacent month, 21-year-old Young will beryllium lining up against Cristiano Ronaldo.

Young is waiting connected his visa earlier jetting retired to subordinate chap caller signing Kurt Zouma astatine Al-Orobah, pinch that 5 October crippled against Al Nassr nary uncertainty successful his mind.

And, having been playing against immoderate semi-pro teams successful TNS’ title-winning campaign, location will beryllium nan lucifer ups against Neymar, Karim Benzema, and more.

“I’m really excited, conscionable look astatine what footballers are successful that league,” Young told BBC Radio Wales

“Saudi has already practically taken complete boxing, and they’re connected nan verge of taking complete football. They’re investing bully money into it and soon - successful five, 10 years’ clip - it will beryllium conscionable for illustration nan Premier League.

“It’s a life-changing opportunity.”

Young, whose early days astatine Aston Villa’s academy were almost wrecked by a serious weapon attack, had ever declared an ambition to move abroad, though possibly he didn’t expect nan circumstances.

The woody includes a Welsh home football’s largest fee, nan £190,000 thought to beryllium doubling nan erstwhile grounds successful a convention wherever astir moves are astatine nan extremity of contracts aliases simply nominal fees.

It does though travel astatine a clip wherever nan Cymru Premier has had new finance and expanding interest, pinch TNS’ historical qualification for nan group stages of nan Europa Conference League timely.

It was aft the play-off first-leg against Lithuania’s Panevezys that Young said his supplier made him alert of nan Pro-League interest, pinch New Saint’s proprietor Mike Harris ne'er apt to guidelines successful nan measurement of an “exceptional” connection to nan subordinate moreover if he was loathe to suffer his starring marksman.

Within a week nan transportation that raised eyebrows everyplace was completed.

“I wasn’t expecting for it to spell this big,” Young said of nan headlines made.

“It’s large for Welsh home shot and TNS - it’s not everybody they waste to Saudi Arabia, 1 of nan champion countries successful nan world and a apical shot league.

"It’s astir apt bigger than maine going to nan Premier League because it’s worldwide and it’s not thing that usually happens."

Success for Young could beryllium bully for nan Cymru Premier, pinch Young – released by Villa past summertime – admitting he owes overmuch to nan Welsh platform.

“Hopefully young players tin spot this,” he said. “I was struggling for a club, TNS took maine successful and gave maine a level to play and execute and show what I’m about. I person to convey them.

“I ever said to my family I wanted to play abroad, I didn’t conscionable want to play successful nan UK. If I do good retired there, it opens maine up worldwide and I could spell to immoderate convention I want.”