July Recap: Ronaldo’s Contract Renewal, Theo Hernandez Joins Al Hilal, Galtier Takes Over NEOM SC, and More Saudi Footie Highlights
Anyone who’s big on football will notice just how eventful the month of July has been in the Saudi Football scene. The Saudi Pro League may have been on a break, but we’ve witnessed some major events. Al Hilal’s performance at the FIFA Club World Cup, players transferring into the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo’s contract renewal, and manager swaps are just some of the top events.
Let’s look at the key events in Saudi Football that made the news in July.
EX-PSG Manager Galtier Joins Newly Promoted NEOM SC in a Major Managerial Coup
NEOM SC managed to snap up Christophe Galtier. The club welcomed the former PSG manager as they prepare for their debut in the Saudi top-level league.
Before his move to NOEM SC, Galtier was the manager of Al Duhail in Qatar for two years and Saint-Etienne for eight years. Most memorable was his role in steering LOSC Lille back to the UEFA Champions League during his time at the club.
It was under his guidance that Lille went on to clinch the Ligue 1 title in the 2020-21 season. The French tactician moved on to Nice, and later took Mauricio Pochettino’s place at PSG in July 2022, winning another Ligue 1 title before moving to Al Duhail in 2023.
From Galtier’s track record, we can see that he’s not only an experienced manager but also a dynamic football coach. NOEM SC hopes that by leveraging these tools, they’ll have a chance to make an impression in the Saudi Pro League.
Notably, NOEM SC has made great strides in the transfer market. The club signed Ivory Coast midfielder Amadou Kone, Al Fayha defender Faris Abdi, and former Arsenal and Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette. There’s no doubt that the team will hit the ground running in the coming season under Galtier.
Cristiano Ronaldo Extends Stay at Al Nassr for a Further Two Seasons
Cristiano Ronaldo has renewed his contract with Al Nassr for another two years. With this extension, he’ll continue to play in the Saudi Pro League until 2027.
This announcement has given Al Nassr the ammunition needed to chase the Saudi Pro League title, which has been elusive in recent seasons. This has been mainly due to Al Hilal and Al Ittihad being formidable challengers on the pitch.
By replacing Stefano Pioli with Jorge Jesus as their manager, Al Nassr hopes that keeping Ronaldo is exactly what they need to bolster their chances of clinching the Saudi Pro League title in the new season.
Theo Hernandez Joins Al Hilal From AC Milan
July also witnessed the announcement of France full-back Theo Hernandez moving to Al Hilal from AC Milan. By signing a three-year deal, the 27-year-old will play in the Saudi Pro League until the end of the 2027-28 season.
It is evident that Hernandez’s move to Al Hilal and the Saudi Pro League is a major coup. The Frenchman doesn’t just bring a wealth of experience but also success at the highest level, being a Serie A and Italian Super Cup winner with AC Milan.
The fact that Hernandez scored 24 times and provided 45 assists in 262 appearances for his former team is a testament to his dynamic abilities. Before moving to Serie A, Theo Hernandez played for Real Madrid and won the Champions League in 2018 as well as the FIFA Club World Cup.
There’s no question about how valuable he’ll be to Al Hilal as they strive to snatch the Saudi Pro League title away from reigning champions Al Ittihad.
Al Hilal’s Success at The FIFA Club World Cup
With no league action in July, Al Hilal’s feats at the FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S.A. were the highlight of the month.
One all-time classic match in the FIFA Club World Cup was when Al Hilal triumphed over Manchester City in a stunning 4-3 victory. This match was a major highlight for the club and the Saudi Pro League. The Saudi Pro League side may not have made it to the final, but their impact at the tournament sent shockwaves as they managed to knock out one of the pre-tournament favourites.
This followed another major performance at their opener, where they drew 1-1 with Real Madrid. Al Hilal dominated their match against the La Liga giants and could easily have earned all three points.
With Simone Inzaghi as the new manager, Al Hilal enhanced their profile in the world of football while also expanding the appeal and popularity of the Saudi Pro League in the process.
Jorge Jesus Returns to the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr
In a sensational swap, Jorge Jesus has returned to the Saudi Pro League on a one-year contract as the new Al Nassr manager.
Having won the Saudi Pro League in the 2023-24 season with Al Hilal in record-breaking fashion, the Portuguese will be striving for similar success at Al Nassr, and ending a 7-year league title trophy drought for the club.
Al Nassr and Stefano Pioli parted ways after finishing third in the Saudi Pro League, falling to meet the expectations of domestic success. Jorge Jesus, a proven winner, is eager to drive Al Nassr’s new season, especially with the renewal of Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract with the club.
Ronaldo Is the Fans’ Player of the Season
Fans recognized Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance in the Saudi Pro League. The Portuguese finished as the top scorer in the last season, winning the 2024-25 Player of the Season title.
His performance against Al Riyadh also led to recognition by the fans with the Goal of the Season award. The fact that Ronaldo was voted Man of the Match most times (15) in the 2025/25 season is another feather in his cap.
Ronaldo’s recognition goes to show just how important he is to Al Nassr. We have witnessed him defying age and continuing to set records even as he intends to don the Al Nassr Jersey until he turns 42.
As the pre-season heats up, it’s clear that July has set the stage for an exciting new season for the Saudi Pro League. With new managerial appointments and signings, the sides are getting ready to make waves in the new season.
