Bordeaux's Wendel heads for Saudi Arabia

Bordeaux's Brazilian midfielder Wendel is set to join Saudi club Al Ittihad, the French Ligue 1 side confirmed on Thursday. The 29-year-old had been recently linked with a move to French rivals Saint-Etienne but instead opted for a move to the Middle East. Wendel, whose contract with Bordeaux runs until 2012, met with club president Jean-Louis Triaud to sort out the final details of the transfer on Thursday. Triaud told regional newspaper Sud Ouest: "Once we've received the payment he (Wendel) can leave." Wendel had been involved in advanced talks with Saint-Etienne but both clubs could not reach agreement over the salary terms. In five seasons with Bordeaux, Wendel won the Ligue 1 title in 2009 as well as two League Cups (2007, 2009), playing 156 matches and scoring 35 goals.