As more players, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, make their way to the Middle East, the Saudi Pro League continues to gain prominence.
Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia in January following his departure from Manchester United, and Benzema’s recent transfer to Al Ittihad from Real Madrid, have set the trend. N’Golo Kante, a Premier League, Champions League, and World Cup winner, joins fellow countryman Benzema at the Saudi champions, while Ruben Neves, a 26-year-old midfielder, has chosen to depart Europe after Al Hilal’s £47.2m ($60m) offer was accepted by Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Sporting News delves into the reasons why players are opting for Saudi Arabia over staying in Europe.
Why are players choosing Saudi Arabia? The transfer of Neves surprised many fans, as he had been frequently linked with clubs like Barcelona and Manchester United. European football is often regarded as the pinnacle of the sport at the club level, largely due to the prestige of the Champions League.
The simple answer as to why players are flocking to Saudi Arabia is money. Most footballers retire from the sport in their late thirties, provided they haven’t been forced into early retirement due to injuries. Consequently, maximizing their earnings often takes priority over competing for major trophies.
For instance, Neves was reportedly earning around £4m ($5.1m) per year at Wolves. His move to Al Hilal will see his annual salary skyrocket to an estimated £12m ($15.3m), tripling his earnings in Riyadh.
A similar phenomenon occurred in the sport of golf, as players departed from the PGA Tour to join the Saudi-funded LIV International Golf Series. Financial benefits outweighed the incentives offered by the PGA Tour for some of the sport’s top players.
Why is Saudi Arabia investing heavily in star players? As Saudi Pro League teams do not participate in the Champions League or face top-tier European teams on a regular basis, they needed an alternative way to enhance the quality of their squads.
Offering substantial sums of money to acquire players who have yet to reach their career peak not only elevates the reputation of the league but also intensifies competition between teams. This, in turn, encourages more players like Neves, Edouard Mendy, and Hakim Ziyech to consider joining the league.
Bringing in established stars like Ronaldo and Benzema, both former Ballon d’Or winners, serves as a signal to older players that the Saudi Pro League is a viable option for a final destination, similar to MLS or the Chinese Super League.
Financial expenditure by Saudi Arabian teams on marquee signings While Saudi Arabian teams are indeed spending significant amounts on new players, the majority of the investment is allocated to player wages. Neves currently holds the title for the league’s most expensive signing, with the second-highest transfer fee (Ahmed Musa to Al Nassr) standing at £14.2m ($18m).
Here are the total market values of each team in the Saudi Pro League, as per transfermarkt:
- Al-Nassr: £61.2m ($77.9m)
- Al-Shabab: £35.7m ($45.4m)
- Al-Hilal: £32.2m ($40.9m)
- Al-Ittihad: £24.1m ($30.6m)
- Ettifaq: £22m ($28m)
- Al-Taawoun: £18.9m ($24m)
- Al-Fateh: £11.9m ($15.1m)
- Al-Tai: £9.91m ($12.6m)
- Al-Wehda: £9m ($11.5m)
- Damac: £8.7m ($11.1m)
- Abha Club: £8.2m ($10.5m)
- Al-Fayha: £8.1m ($10.3m)
- Khaleej: £7.6m ($9.6m)
- Al-Raed: £6.6m ($8.5m)
- Al-Batin: £6.6m ($8.4m)
- Al-Adalah: £4.5m ($5.8m)
Who are the owners of Saudi Arabian teams? The clubs in the Saudi Pro League are undergoing privatization as part of a government initiative to foster the development of the sport in the country. The Minister of Sport in Saudi Arabia stated that these changes aim to elevate the competition among the top ten leagues in the world.
The Public Investment Fund (PIF), who own an 80.5% stake in Newcastle United, also hold 75% stakes in Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ahli, and Al Ittihad. Additionally, Saudi oil company Aramco is set to acquire a percentage of Al Qadsia, while Neom has purchased a portion of Al Suqoor FC.
