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Salisbury City has signed a Saudi prince after the cash-strapped club was sold in secret overnight deal

Prince Khalid Bin Bader Alsaud will play for Salisbury City Football Club
He is the first member of Saudi royalty to play for professional British team
Club is in deep financial trouble and players were not paid for two months
Club sold in a secret deal to wealthy Moroccan businessman Otail Touzar

Published: 16:07, 10 June 2014 | Updated: 18:28, 10 June 2014

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Football fans have been left baffled after discovering their cash-strapped team has signed a Suadi prince as a midfielder.

Prince Khalid Bin Bader Alsaud has become the first member of Saudi royalty to play for a professional British team.

However, he isn’t joining one of the glamourous Premier League sides owned by his relatives - he will instead be playing for Salisbury City Football Club.

Salisbury City FC's new owner Moroccan businessman Otail Touzar (left) with the Wiltshire club's newest player Prince Khalid Bin Bader Alsaud (right)

Salisbury City Football Club in Wiltshire is currently around mid-table in the Skrill Conference Premier League

The club, which plays in the non-league Skrill Conference Premier League, is in deep financial trouble and the players were not paid for two months.

The signing came as a complete surprise to fans and officials after the club was sold in a secret overnight deal to wealthy Moroccan businessman Otail Touzar.

He immediately appointed himself chairman and made midfielder Prince Khalid, 19, his first signing.

Touzar, 31, who has links to oil-rich sheikhs, claims he was initially in negotiations to buy a number of Spanish and Premier League teams.

However, he then settled for Salisbury City FC in Wiltshire, which is currently hovering around mid-table in the Skrill Conference Premier League.

The signing came as a complete surprise to fans and officials after the club was sold in a secret overnight deal to wealthy Moroccan businessman Otail Touzar (left). He appointed himself chairman and made midfielder Prince Khalid, 19, (right) his first signing

It is hoped he can bring stability to the club, which has been relegated two divisions over the past couple of years and went into administration.

Mr Touzar says he is determined to turn the team’s fortunes around.

He said: 'I am honoured to take on the role of chairman of Salisbury City Football Club.

'After initial hesitation, deep thinking and consulting with my advisers I decided to accept the challenge of taking this lovely small town community club and build something special out of it.'

He hailed the signing of Prince Khalid who had no idea he was a prince and is currently playing for Bromley Football Club.

Salisbury City FC's new owner Moroccan businessman, Otail Touzar (second right) with officials from the Wiltshire club which is in deep financial trouble

Mr Touzar added: 'I also would like to take this opportunity to announce our first major squad addition in this new and exciting era.

'Prince Khalid Bin Bader Alsaud from Kingdom of Saudia Arabia agreed to play for us next season.

'A 19-year-old versatile midfielder, he will join us from Bromley FC and will become the first Arab and Saudi Royal to play professional football in history and what a better historic and special place for that to happen than Salisbury?'

Mr Touzar teamed up with the coach of the under-11s side, Mark Winter, to save the club from the threat of closure.

Flash: Salisbury City FC's new owner Moroccan businessman Otail Touzar pictured outside the Wiltshire club getting into his sports car

However, staff at the club didn’t know anything about the sale or signing until they read the news posted on the official website at 4.37am on Monday.

The statement was titled: 'Salisbury City FC Appoints New Chairman and Agrees a Deal with a Saudi Prince.'

The prince said he is now looking forward to proving himself at the team which plays at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium in Wiltshire.

'I am very happy to be joining Salisbury City FC, who have shown an interest in young players which is encouraging for me'

Prince Khalid

Prince Khalid said: 'I am very happy to be joining Salisbury City FC, who have shown an interest in young players which is encouraging for me.

'I want to thank the club new Chairman Mr Outail for putting his faith in me and hope I can gain some experience this season and show that I deserve to be here.'

Speaking on a fan’s forum, some supporters were sceptical at the the thought of a royal joining their side.

One user, Swaine’s Ginger Cat, posted: 'Mmmm, so he couldn’t even get a game with Bromley and all of a sudden he’s a major squad signing for a team a league above them just at the moment that they’re facing massive financial issues.

'Gonna be interesting to see how that one pans out if he’s way below the level required but helping to pay the rest of the team.

'Of course the Salisbury scouts might have travelled for those reserves matches and unearthed a gem.'

A spokesman for Bromley FC, which plays in the Skrill South - a league below Salisbury - said they were not aware of his regal background when they accepted him into their reserves.

'We get lots of players coming along saying they want to play for us, so what usually happens is we’ll have a look at them in the reserves, it seems that’s what happened with him,' the spokesman said.

Salisbury was threatened with expulsion from Skrill Premier League earlier this week unless it paid the players’ wages. It is understood these have now been paid.