Saudi Pro League Summer Transfer Window Roundup: Benzema, Mane, Neymar, More
The rise of the Saudi Pro League as an attractive destination for world football’s leading talents in Europe and beyond has been the major story of the summer. Bankrolled by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia to the tune of $620, the Saudi Pro League has stormed the market, blowing most of the European giants out of the water and spending around $907m, second only to the English Premier League’s estimated $1.39bn spent.
The spending in the Saudi Pro League is not uniform. Unlike the English Premier League, the spending in the SPL has been done by a handful of teams because of the influence of the PIF. The PIF took ownership of four leading clubs in the Saudi Pro League as a part of a larger strategy called the “Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project.” PIF now owns a 75% stake in each of the four teams, the Asian champions Al Hilal, Saudi champions Al Ittihad, Al Nassr, and Al Ahli.
Backed by PIF finances, these four clubs were the leading players in the transfer window, disrupting Europe and laying the groundwork for the meteoric rise of the Saudi Pro League project.
Here is a guide to each club’s business activity and the main players they brought in during the summer transfer window.
AL HILAL
Al Hilal did not spend notably in last year’s transfers.
The net spending for the concluded summer transfer window is estimated at €375m.
Neymar
The Brazilian talisman is the signature signing of the summer, moving from French champions PSG to Al Hilal for an estimated €90m ($98.6m).
The former Barcelona forward, 31 years old, is the joint all-time top scorer for Brazil. Although rumors of Neymar returning to Barcelona swirled for most of the summer, a move never looked likely.
Neymar moved to Riyadh instead and will be on a reportedly mammoth salary of around $100m annually, around half of what Cristiano Ronaldo earns at Al Nassr.
Malcom
The 26-year-old Brazilian moved from Russian Premier League side Zenit on a four-year deal following a season in Russia where he finished as the top scorer with 23 goals.
The move cost an estimated €60m ($66m) and will provide Al Hilal with a goal threat, presence up front, and dynamism alongside other attacking talents at the side.
Ruben Neves
The Portugal international shocked the world of football by agreeing to a three-year deal to leave Wolverhampton Wanderers and move to Riyadh with Al Hilal.
At the prime of his career, Neves was linked with a move to major Premier League sides like Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Manchester City and Spanish champions Barcelona.
The midfielder was signed for a reported fee of around €55m ($60m) and is expected to serve Asia’s most successful club -Al Hilal – for many years to come.
Alexandar Mitrovic
Fulham were reluctant to let go of their leading striker as they prepared for the new season of the Premier League. Marco Silva’s side rejected an initial $33m offer from Al Hilal reiterating their wish to keep the player.
But the 28-year-old Serbian international underscored his wish to leave for the Saudi Pro League. Fulham eventually sanctioned a sale for an estimated fee of £46m ($58.6m) for their top scorer, with 14 Premier League goals last season for the Londoners.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
At 28 years old, Milinkovic-Savic was linked with a move from Lazio to Liverpool and Arsenal in the summer.
However, after eight years in Serie A with Lazio, Milinkovic-Savic opted to move to the Saudi Pro League with Al Hilal, signing a contract earning him $22m annually and running until 2023.
Lazio sanctioned a move after their valuation of around €40m ($44m) was met by Al Hilal.
Yassine Bounou
After a starring role at the World Cup, in Morocco’s run to the semifinals in Qatar, the 32-year-old Bounou moved to Al-Hilal on a three-year deal.
Sevilla let their star goalkeeper, who helped them to win two Europa League titles, go after their valuation of around €21m ($22.8m) was met by Al Hilal.
Kalidou Koulibaly
With Chelsea in the middle of an inconsistent period, Kalidou Koulibaly decided to move to Al Hilal in the summer after only moving from Napoli to Chelsea for €40m last summer.
Al Hilal paid £17m ($21.61m) to get the services of the Senegalese defender on a three-year deal.
AL ITTIHAD
In the previous transfer window, Al Ittihad did not spend notably.
The estimated spending in the concluded transfer window is around €126m of transfer fees.
Karim Benzema
The Ballon d’Or holder was a headline coup for the Saudi Pro League and Al Ittihad. The 35-year-old completed a free transfer to Al Ittihad, calling time on his stay at 14-time European Champions Real Madrid.
Benzema signed a two-year contract that will see him earn a reported $436m.
Fabinho
Al Ittihad paid Liverpool a reported £40m ($51.33m) to sign their valued midfielder (who can play in defense) on a three-year deal.
The Brazilian midfielder, who won the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, will add solidity to the Al Ittihad midfield.
N’Golo Kante
Another massive coup for Al Hilal, with the French international and Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante moving to the Saudi Pro League and Al Hilal on a free transfer after his contract had run out and efforts to renew it hit a snag.
The Premier League champion with Leicester and Chelsea, European Champion with Chelsea, and World Cup winner with France signed a four-year contract at Hilal and will earn a reported 109.78m annually throughout the four years at the Jeddah club.
Jota
The prolific Portuguese forward moved from Celtic to Al Ittihad for an estimated £25m ($31.7m), signing a three-year contract at the Jeddah-based club.
Jota proved his worth at Celtic, contributing 28 goals and 26 assists in the two years he spent at Celtic.
Luiz Felipe
Luiz Felipe, 26-year-old, signed on transfer deadline day from Real Betis. Al Ittihad paid an estimated €25m ($26.7m) to get their man.
AL AHLI
Last year, Al Ahli’s major player acquisitions included Ryad Boudebouz, Marcao, Lewis Grabban, and Modou Barrow.
Al Ahli spent an estimated €214m in transfer acquisitions in the just concluded transfer window.
Gabri Veiga
The 21-year-old made a shock move to the Saudi Pro League with Al Ahli after he was linked with European giants, including Chelsea, PSG, and Napoli.
The deal with Napoli was especially close, with a verbal agreement reached and a fee of around €36m agreed with Celta Vigo.
However, Al Ahli swooped and had a fee of around €40m ($43m), the release clause paid to Celta Vigo, and convinced the player to move to the Middle East instead.
Veiga was reportedly offered wages five times what was on offer if he had moved to Naples. His move is significant given his age, potentially setting a precedent for younger prodigies worldwide to consider the SPL.
Riyad Mahrez
The treble winner with Manchester City last season, Riyad Mahrez, opted to move to Al Ahli on a three-year contract, with an option to extend.
Al Ahli paid Manchester City around €35m ($39m) to sign the 32-year-old four-time Premier League champion.
Roger Ibanez
The Brazilian defender moved from Serie A side Roma to the Saudi Pro League with Al Ahli for an estimated fee of around €30m ($32m).
The 24-year-old turned down potential moves to Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa in the English Premier League to sign a four-year deal at Al Ahli.
Allan Saint-Maximin
Newcastle, owned by the PIF, were paid an estimated €27m ($30m) to sell Allan Saint-Maximin. Newcastle’s manager indicated at the time that the 26-year-old Frenchman had to be sold to help the Magpies make further signings due to financial fair play.
Edouard Mendy
The Champions League-winning goalkeeper with Chelsea signed for Al Ahli for £16m ($21m), signing a three-year deal.
Merih Demiral
Atalanta sold the 25-year-old Turkish defender for an estimated €20m ($35m). The center-back signed a three-year deal at Al Ahli.
Franck Kessie
Al Ahli paid Spanish champions Barcelona a fee of around €12m ($13m) to sign the 26-year-old midfielder.
The Ivory coast international moved to the Saudi Pro League after a successful season at Barcelona, making 43 appearances for La Blaugrana on their way to winning La Liga.
Roberto Firmino
The Brazilian moved from Liverpool to Al Ahli on a free transfer.
The forward left Liverpool after his contract ran out; he signed a three-year deal with Al Ahli.
AL NASSR
Al Nassr made the signing that laid the groundwork for this just concluded transfer window and its success, that of Cristiano Ronaldo. Other players signed last summer include David Ospina, Luiz Gustavo, and Alvaro Gonzalez.
The net spending for Al Nassr this transfer window is an estimated €175m.
Otavio
Otavio moved from Liga Portuguesa side Porto to Al Nassry for a reported €60m ($65m). The 28-year-old attacking-minded midfielder snubbed interest from Manchester United, Juventus, and Newcastle to move to the Saudi Pro League.
Otavio signed a three-year deal at Al Nassr and will line up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League this season.
Sadio Mane
After an underwhelming season at Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, Sadio Mane called time in European football and joined Al Nassr.
Bayern Munich received around €27.5m ($30m) for the transfer, allowing Mane to sign a four-year deal at Al Nassr. The former Liverpool player will hope to regain some of the explosiveness and goal threat he possessed at Anfield prior to moving to the Allianz Arena.
Aymeric Laporte
Al Nassr pulled off one of the most impressive defensive signings of the summer when they got Manchester City’s Aymeric Laporte to sign on the dotted lines.
Manchester City sanctioned the sale after agreeing a fee of around €27.5m ($30m). Recent seasons saw Laporte struggle with injuries and fall down the pecking order at Manchester City as other defensive options were brought into the team.
Seko Fofana
For a free estimated to be around €25m ($28m), Al Nassr acquired the services of 28-year-old Seko Fofana, who starred for Lens last season on their way to a second-place finish, a point behind champions PSG.
Fofana signed a three-year deal to add to the options in midfield for Al Nassr.
Marcelo Brozovic
Last season’s beaten Champions League finalists, Inter Milan, sold Marcelo Brozovic to Al Nassr for an estimated €18m ($20m).
Although he had interest expressed by Barcelona, Brozovic opted to move to Riyadh instead, signing a three-year contract with wages of around $30m per season.
Alex Telles
Alex Telles never really settled at Manchester United, farmed out on loan to Sevilla last season.
The 30-year-old Brazilian fullback signed for Al Nassr for a reported fee of around €4m ($4.4m), signing a three-year deal and reuniting with former teammate in Manchester, Cristiano Ronaldo.
AL-ETTIFAQ
Al-Ettifaq signed Marcel Tisserand, Vitinho, and Berat Ozdemir in the last transfer window.
In this transfer window, their net spending rose to €25m.
Jordan Henderson
Al-Ettifaq paid Liverpool around £12m ($15.4m) to sign their captain Jordan Henderson. Although Al Ettifaq is not a “big four” club, they already had Steven Gerrard as manager, which had its pulling power for Henderson.
Henderson signed a three-year deal at Al-Ettifaq.
Demarai Grey
Al-Ettifaq paid an estimated £8m ($9.9m) to sign the 27-year-old forward. Grey signed a four-year deal right before the Saudi transfer window slammed shut on September 7th.
Gini Wijnaldum
Although he spent last season on loan at Roma, Gini Wijnaldum was a PSG player. Al-Ettifaq paid the French champions around €9m ($9.7m) to get the player to sign to join former teammates Henderson and Gerrard.
Jack Hendry
The 28-year-old Scotland international was signed for an estimated fee of £6.5m ($8.3m) from Belgian Pro League side Club Brugge.
Moussa Dembele
After his contract at Lyon expired, Moussa Dembele was a free agent. He opted to move to the Middle East with Al-Ettifaq and sign a four-year deal.
AL SHABAB
Yannick Carrasco
Al Shabab, another club outside the PIF big four, paid Atletico Madrid around €15m ($16m) to get the services of Belgian international Yannick Carrasco.
The versatile player who can play across different positions on the left – winger, wingback, and fullback – had a clause that allowed him to move to Barcelona. But when the Spanish champions did not express any interest, he sealed a move to the Saudi Pro League with Al Shabab, signing a three-year deal.
These deals represent the main business done by the major clubs in the Saudi Pro League and focus primarily on the talent acquired from European Leagues.
The amounts involved highlight a statement of intent by the PIF and the Saudi Pro League as they look to disrupt the football world and offer a basis upon which Saudi football can grow its quality, competitiveness, and appeal worldwide.
