The Saudi Pro League kicks off today, and it’s fair to say that this season will be unlike any other in its 47-year existence.
In June 2023, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) acquired a 75 percent stake in the four biggest clubs in the country (Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal) and thus the Saudi Pro League went on a shopping spree.
Tonight’s first game of the new season features PIF-owned Al-Ahli, armed with new signings Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle United), Édouard Mendy (Chelsea), Roger Ibañez (Roma) and Franck Kessié (Barcelona). Meanwhile opponents Al-Hazm have had to make do with some loan signings and the $1.6m signing of Faïz Selemani from Belgian Pro League side KV Kortrijk.
Lost count of all the superstar signings heading to the kingdom? Thankfully we’ve got you covered.
Which players have already moved to the Saudi Pro League?
Another week, another player (or two). The great Saudi migration is really cooking now. Here’s the business we know about…
Karim Benzema
Al-Ittihad from Real Madrid (free transfer)
How do you one-up the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo? Answer: lure the reigning Ballon d’Or holder to the sunny shores of Jeddah is the most high profile player to pitch up in Saudi since Cristiano Ronaldo’s January move to Al-Nassr.
N’Golo Kante
Al-Ittihad from Chelsea (free transfer)
The French World Cup and Champions League winning midfielder joins his countryman, Benzema, at last year’s league champions, in another as another fine piece of free transfer work from the Al-Ittihad board.
Ruben Neves
Al-Hilal from Wolves ($60m)
Seen as a statement of intent the signing of Portugal’s national team captain broke the mould when he put pen to paper to join Al-Hilal. While much has been written about the Saudi Pro League signing players in the twilight of their career, at 26-years-old, Neves’ is an elite player only just approaching his prime.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Al-Hilal from Chelsea ($20.2m)
Alongside N’Golo Kante and Edouard Mendy, the imposing Senegalese centreback is another big name raid from Stamford Bridge. Having built a reputation as a dominant defender with an eye for goal in both Italy’s Serie A and the English Premier League, his arrival in the Saudi Pro League is another key part of a very active transfer strategy for Riyadh’s Al-Hilal.
Edouard Mendy
Al-Ahli from Chelsea ($20.2m)
The dynamic shotstopper, Mendy might have slipped down the pecking order by the end of his tenure at Chelsea, but he was part of the side that won the 2021 Champions League.
Marcelo Brozovic
Al-Nassr from Inter Milan ($20m)
While there was talk that the 30-year-old Croatian international might head to Barcelona, a reported salary of nearly $30m per season (and a three year deal) helped persuade him to join up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr in Riyadh.
Jota
Al-Ittihad from Celtic ($31.7m)
Although not perhaps a player yet classed in the ‘elite’ bracket, at just 24 Jota represents another coup for Saudi deal makers representing, like Neves to Al-Hilal, a player not yet in his prime. He joins up with Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante at current champions, Al-Ittihad.
Roberto Firmino
Al-Ahli from Liverpool (free transfer)
This one feels like it’s been on the cards since ‘Bobby’ Firmino’s tearful Anfield goodbye at the end of last season. The 31-year-old Brazilian striker joins Edouard Mendy at Al-Ahli, the former Chelsea keeper joining last week.
Segej Milinkovic-Savic
Al-Hilal from Lazio ($44m)
A move that shows the Saudi Pro League is gaining the power to even trump the Premier League, the Serbian had serious interest from Arsenal and Liverpool, but decided to join Neves and Koulibaly in Riyadh.
Seko Fofana
Al-Nassr from Lens ($28m)
After almost pipping PSG to Ligue 1 last season, the Ivory Coast leaves Lens—as a shareholder—to join up with Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo Brozovic at Al-Nassr on a three-year deal.
Riyad Mahrez
Al-Ahli from Manchester City ($38m)
After protracted negotiations, Manchester City has finally accepted an offer from Al-Ahli for the Algerian winger who hit 15 goals in 47 games for their treble-winning season. He joins Roberto Firmino from Liverpool and Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy.
Jordan Henderson
Al-Ettifaq from Liverpool ($15m)
The on-off move of Liverpool captain, Henderson, to Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq has had more twists and turns than a Ramadan drama series. However, it was finally sorted on Jul 27, with the player ready to join his former Liverpool mentor.
Allan Saint-Maximin
Al-Ahli from Newcastle United ($25m)
After a protracted courtship the tricky former Newcastle United winger signed for Al-Ahli last week, joining recent Premier League recruits Riyad Mahrez from Manchester City, Roberto Firmino from Liverpool, and Edouard Mendy from Chelsea.
Fabinho
Al-Ittihad from Liverpool ($51m)
The 29 year old becomes the second player to leave Liverpool for the Saudi Pro League, the Brazilian joining up with Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante at the current league champions.
Sadio Mane
Al-Nassr from Bayern Munich (approximately $44.4m)
After a turbulent year in German,y where the Senegalese striker hit just 12 goals in 38 games, the former Liverpool man moves to join Cristiano Ronaldo ay Al-Nassr.
Which players have rejected a move to Saudi?
It’s believed that PIF has a strategic list of players that they’re slowly working through to bring improvements in both quality and visibility to the Saudi Pro League. While there have been some noticeable successes, there have also been numerous big name players that have allegedly turned down big money advances (…in favour of other big money advances).
Lionel Messi
The number one target rejected a move to Al-Hilal in favour of David Beckham-owned MLS side Inter Miami.
Neymar Jr.
It’s rumoured that a PIF delegation flew to Paris to sound out a move for the Brazilian, learning that he favours a stay in Europe… for now.
Ilkay Gundogan
As far as seasons go, the out-going Manchester City captain enjoyed a pretty good one, winning an historic treble of trophies. However, a free transfer to Barcelona put paid to any Saudi move for the versatile German international.
Romelu Lukaku
After a successful loan spell at Champions League runners-up, Inter Milan, last season, the Chelsea-owned striker is unlikely to line-up at Stamford Bridge next season, but it’s believed he firmly rejected a move to the Saudi Pro League.
Luka Modric
Despite fitting the Saudi blueprint, the 37-year-old, former World Player of the Year, remains in fine form at Real Madrid, and is intent on prolonging his career orchestrating the midfield at the Bernabeu.
Sergio Busquets
It is true that Catalan stalwart Busquets is finally leaving Barcelona this summer, however it’s believed he is on the verge of joining his former teammate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, rather than opting for a switch to the Saudi Pro League.
Robert Lewandowski
The Polish goal machine (Lewan-goal-ski, if you will…) has allegedly passed up an eye-watering pay cheque to retain the Barcelona number nine shirt at Camp Nou.
Alexandre Lacazette
Back at his hometown club of Olympique Lyonnais, the Frenchman has re-found his goalscoring form since joining from Arsenal, and has so far rejected all advances to leave the club.
Sadio Mane
Despite winning the Bundesliga, personally the former Liverpool goal-machine had a very mixed first season at Bayern Munich. However, Mane has made it clear to his representatives that if he were to leave the club, he would prefer to stay in Europe.
Son Heung-min
While the Spurs striker has refused a move to Saudi so far, its expected officials will come back over a move in 2024.
Which players might yet play in Saudi?
You get the feeling that PIF is only warming up with a number of these signings, so you can likely expect a few more big names to be unveiled there soon. More than likely from this list of big name players.
Thiago Silva
The Brazilian captain now plays the role of elder statesman in a Chelsea side that desperately needs some leadership, but with the Blues not playing in European competition this season, he would represent a big name coup for Saudi deal makers.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
With a big reputation but unable to push his way back into Chelsea’s matchday squad contention, the misfiring centre forward feels like he could be prime Saudi move material, and has been linked with Al Ahli.
Hugo Lloris
The Spurs and French national team stopper has already expressed his desire to leave the London club, and has apparently been offered a big money move to Saudi.
Thomas Partey
Despite a standout season at Arsenal, it looks like Partey’s days at the Emirates are done, and the club has already given him permission to speak with clubs in Saudi.
Bernardo Silva
In something of a shock, 28-year-old Silva looks set to leave Manchester City for the Saudi Pro League, with a huge contract—rumoured to be from Al-Hilal—awaiting him.
Antoine Griezmann
The Atletico Madrid striker fits the Saudi mould perfectly, and it’s rumoured that the Frenchman’s team have already met with officials in London over a big move to join former Madrid-dweller Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
Sergio Ramos
The Spaniard to Saudi from PSG feels like a done deal, with rumours abounding that he could make the move from the French Champions to Al-Ahli very soon.
Pepe and William Carvalho
We put these together for one reason: Cristiano Ronaldo. The PIF plan allegedly involves big name players having influence, and it’s believed that Ronaldo would love these fellow Portuguese players to join him (and Neves) in the Kingdom.
Paul Pogba
After a few nightmare seasons at Manchester United and then Juventus, Pogba is probably feeling he’s due a change of luck. Could a move to join fellow French World Cup winners Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante at Al-Ittihad be on the cards?
Allan Saint-Maximin
The tricky Newcastle United winger is currently believed to be in talks with Al-Ahli over a $30m move to the Kingdom. Meanwhile, the northeast club has moved quickly to replace him with Leicester City’s Harvey Barnes.