Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab have revealed they will pay the A-League side a staggering US$1.2 million - worth AU$1.43 million - for the former Newcastle Jet if the transfer can be finalised.

The club's official website hailed "...the signing of contract with him for one season in exchange for one million two hundred thousand dollars and a comprehensive salary."

Griffiths is expected to earn around a million a year for himself in the deal - but it must be completed by the start of business tomorrow when the transfer window closes in the Saudi league.

And tonight United boss Miron Bleiberg warned that the Gold Coast side had yet to see a cent, with the first payment instalment needed by breakfast to seal the deal.

"I haven't seen the money yet, so if they send the money then congratulations to them," Bleiberg told AAP. "I can announce I've bought a house but if I don't pay money for the house I don't get ownership of the house

"As for this moment, the money hasn't arrived yet ... maybe tomorrow morning."

Al-Shabab - Arabic for The Youth - confirmed the deal was as good as done on their website tonight and said Griffiths, 29, was delighted by "...the professionalism of the club in the negotiations and speed"

"It's a great pleasure to join Al Shabab," Griffiths told the club's website.

"Al Shabab are one of the best professional clubs in Saudi Arabia and the administration showed a lot of commitment in their negotiations with me.

"I have watched some of their matches in the AFC Champions League and I have got a lot of information from the internet. They won two championships last season and finished fourth in the local league."

Griffiths is currently in the Bahraini capital of Manama while the deal was finalised and the paperwork completed to arrange his work visa and entry to the Saudi kingdom.

He is the fourth foreign player to join the club under the AFC's 3+1 rule, which allows teams to sign one player from an Asian Football Confederation country in addition to three foreign players.

Bleiberg said that while Griffiths was an important part of the team, the cash offer from the Saudi club was too good to turn down.

"We had a very big offer to release Adam," Bleiberg said. "In the end, it's a business decision, everybody has their price and I think the offer exceeded the price."

Bleiberg also said the club was keen to allow Griffiths the opportunity to do what he felt was best for himself and his family.

"Adam is almost 30 and we won't stand in the way of him earning in one year an amount which can settle him for life," he said.

Griffiths was outstanding in United's debut win against the Brisbane Roar, his combination at the back with Bass Van Den Brink proved impregnable, but Bleiberg insists that his possible defection won't harm United's chances.

He added: "He was one of our main signings, yes, and against the Roar he was one of the best three players on the field, but I think that we have the personnel in the team to cover for him.

"All the players who were on the fringe such as Kristian (Rees) and Steve (Pantelidis) now have a bigger chance to play."

Both Rees and Pantelidis came off the bench in the second half against Roar and continued where the starters left off by refusing to forfeit a goal in general play.

Only a Sergio Van Dijk penalty in the 90th minute sullied United's defensive effort, an outstanding achievement for the new club especially considering Brisbane's dominance of possession and position.

Pantelidis - who won a championship with Melbourne Victory - said that he felt rejuvenated as a player on the Gold Coast and was still buzzing after being part of the new team's historic first win.

"It was a great result last week and it will be great to play a bigger part in the games coming up," he said. "If I happen to get an opportunity this week against the Fury, there is no doubt that I will do my best to take it."