Mark Ogden explains why he believes the appeal of the Saudi Pro League will increase in the coming years. (2:07)
The big story of this summer movement window has been the rise of the Saudi Pro League as a trendy destination to attract European football’s biggest stars, and with the Saudis, funded through the $620 billion Public Investment Fund (PIF), driving the market through storm, We bring you the latest updates on who is moving into the kingdom, who says “thank you, but no thanks” and who is still thinking about it.
– Broadcast by ESPN: LaLiga, Bundesliga, (United States)
The current Ballon d’Or holder kicked off Saudi Arabia’s summer business in style, making a loose move from 14-time European champion Real Madrid to two-time Asian champion Al Ittihad. The 35-year-old foreigner from France has signed a two-year contract with 400 million euros ($436 million).
Regardless, a saga of extinct moves has come to an end with French midfielder Kante ending his seven-year stay at Stamford Bridge to sign foreign teammate Benzema at Al Ittihad in a loose move. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is expected to earn 86 million euros ($109. 78 million) a year on his four-year contract with the Jeddah-based club.
Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers have secured a record payment from the club for the transfer of their captain, Neves, to Al Hilal on a three-year deal. The Portuguese foreign midfielder has joined Asia’s most successful club.
Saudi Arabia’s raid on Stamford Bridge continued as the PIF targeted more players. Chelsea cut their losses with Senegalese defender Koulibaly, who joined Al Hilal on a three-year deal, after paying 40 million euros to bring the 32-year-old from Napoli last summer. .
The Senegalese goalkeeper moved from west London to Jeddah on a three-year contract. The 31-year-old won the UEFA Champions League and Best Men’s Goalkeeper award in 2021 with Chelsea, and will now play the opposite. the Jeddah derby to his former teammate Kante, joining Al Ahli.
Gerrard is Al Ettifaq’s new coach after resuming talks with the club to return to management, resources told ESPN’s Mark Ogden, and he agreed to take over the Dammam-based team. The former Liverpool captain, who bid farewell to Aston Villa in November 2022 after less than 12 months at Villa Park, turned down an initial offer to move to Al Ettifaq last month. But after further discussions with the club’s hierarchy, the 43-year-old reached an agreement.
The 30-year-old Croatian foreigner has completed his transfer from Inter Milan to Al Nassr, where he will team up with Cristiano Ronaldo. Salary of €25 million (almost $30 million) according to the season.
The 24-year-old winger joins Benzema and Kante as Jeddah’s third signing this summer after signing a three-year deal with the Saudi champions. In his two years at Glasgow, the Portuguese scored 28 goals and 26 assists.
The 31-year-old striker signed a three-year deal with the Saudi side and joins former Chelsea goalkeeper Mfinishy at the Jeddah-based club. Firmino moved as a free agent after his contract at Liverpool expired at the end of last season.
Julien Laurens has spoken out about rumours suggesting PSG star Neymar is in favour of moving to the Saudi Pro League via Al Hilal.
The 31-year-old superstar has been injured for most of the season, with reports suggesting the Brazil foreigner could move from Paris this summer, with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal as one of the teams keen to secure the sensation. However, it remains to be noted whether Neymar needs to stay in Europe or pass the course elsewhere.
After a perfect World Cup crusade in which he led Morocco to the first semi-final by an African nation, Ziyech looks set to return to the Middle East, this time to join Ronaldo, whom his team eliminated in the quarterfinals. The 30-year-old is set to sign for Al Nassr after a less-than-impressive three-year spell at Chelsea.
Following the move of foreign teammate Neves to Al Hilal, city ace Silva is the subject of a mega bid from the Saudi club. Silva, who has the same agent with Neves (Jorge Mendes), is wanted through Paris Saint Germain and Barcelona has yet to make a decision on his future.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul will join Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. However, Diego Simeone’s side will require a significant fee, with the foreigner from Spain still under contract until 2026.
The 30-year winger’s contract expires at the end of June, and Al Nassr has made an offer (£30m) of $38 million a year, reports imply Zaha will reject the move. It also attracted interest from PSG.
Veteran Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been awarded a contract worth 30 million euros through an unnamed Saudi club, according to Corriere Dello Sport. The 45-year-old still has one year left on his contract with Parma and in the coming days he will know if they deserve to stay there, move to the Middle East or retire.
Shaka Hislop explains how he thinks Chelsea will cope with the loss of veteran midfielder N’Golo Kante.
With Ronaldo already in charge at Al Nassr since January, Saudi Arabia’s hopes of touching arch-rival Messi and recreating their rivalry in the Riyadh derby were dashed when the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner turned down a record 400 million euros ($436 million) a year offered by Al Hilal. opting instead to sign for Inter Miami, MLS fullback.
After the end of his loan spell at Inter, Lukaku won an offer from Saudi Arabia but rejected the approach, pushing for a permanent move to the Italian club where he played 25 times last season and scored 10 goals.
Mourinho has won an offer from Saudi side Al Ahli and has reportedly met with the club’s prospect, but the Portuguese coach will remain with Roma for the season after taking them to the Europa League final.
South Korea captain Son has announced plans to stay with Spurs after being the subject of a 30 million euro ($32. 7 million) offer consistent with Saudi champions Al Ittihad’s season. The 30-year-old said: “I have a lot of things to do in the Premier League. Money doesn’t matter to me anymore, and the pride of betting on football, betting on my favorite league is important. I need to play more for Tottenham in the Premier League. He’ll prepare well when I come back at Spurs. “
The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner turned down a three-year, 170 million pound ($215 million) contract to play in Saudi Arabia and signed a new one-year contract with Real Madrid. Modric is one of the greatest midfielders in the world and is tempted through the SPL, he becomes another wonderful player who refuses to move to the Gulf.
Al Khaleej, located in the city of Saihat, is one of the clubs that went to former Premier League Golden Boot winner Vardy. According to The Guardian, the 36-year-old, who still has 12 months left on his contract at Leicester, is not interested in moving to the Middle East.
Flamengo striker Pedro has turned down a lucrative offer from Al Hilal to the Saudi Pro League side, Globoesporte reports. the Libertadores. Al Cup Hilal would offer Pedro six times the amount he earns lately in Flamengo but the sports loan did convince the player. Al Hilal, which earlier this week named former Flamengo coach Jorge Jesus, is dropping Pedro’s signature.