Mark Clattenburg is to quit his job as a Premier League referee to take up a position in Saudi Arabia, reports BBC Sport.

The 41-year-old is widely considered to be one of the best referees in football, and he took charge of the Euro 2016 final, the Champions League final and the FA Cup final last season.

In December, Clattenburg said he would consider officiating in China.

He is expected to leave his role before the next round of Premier League fixtures which starts on 25 February.

The referee body, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said he had been "a great asset" and "an inspiration to those who want to get into refereeing".

Its statement added: "We understand this is an exciting opportunity for Mark, and it further underlines the high esteem for English match officials throughout the world game."

Clattenburg will be Saudi Arabia's new head of referees. This will involve him working with existing referees to improve performance and professionalise the setup but also taking charge of some local league games.

He has signed a one-year rolling contract.

It's understood he will start in a part-time capacity until the end of the current season and begin full time next season.