Saudi Pro League Clubs have been all over the news lately for their massive involvement in the 2023 summer transfer window.
The massive move of elite European players to the Eastern side is believed to be influenced by Cristiano Ronaldo who first made the move to the league.
Ronaldo left Manchester United in January following a mind-blowing interview he had with Piers Morgan that caused an issue at Old Trafford.
The move to Saudi Pro League was a massive one for Saudi Arabia due to the global media attention the move brought to the league and the golf country.
Well, we can say the Portuguese captain has achieved that in just a short while as the 2023 summer transfer window has seen big-name players such as Ruben Neves, Karim Benzema, and Roberto Firmino all move to clubs in Saudia Arabia for lucrative offers.
Futballnews brings you every high-profile player that has moved to the Saudi Pro League since their transfer window opened on July 1, and it will close on September 20.
Al-Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo – In January 2023, he signed for Al Nassr for a reported offer worth over $200m a year.
Marcelo Brozovic – On July 3, 2023, Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr confirmed that they had secured Brozović for a transfer fee of €18m.
Seko Fofana – Fofana joined Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr on a three-year deal, reportedly worth 25 million Euros on 18th July, 2023.
Alex Telles – Alex Telles reunited with his former teammate Ronaldo after he moved to Al Nassr for a deal worth around 6 million pounds ($7.71 million).
Sadio Mane – Mane is on the verge of joining the Saudi Pro League side after Bayern Munich accepted an offer of £32million for the Senegalese international.
Al-Ahli
Edouard Mendy – Mendy signed for Al Ahli on 28 June, 2023 on a three-year contract, for a fee reported in the British media to be around £16 million.
Roberto Firmino – Roberto Firmino left Liverpool to join Saudi League club Al Ahli on 4th July, 2023, signing a contract until 2026.
Riyad Mahrez – Reports have it that Manchester City agreed on a deal for Mahrez to join Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli for a transfer fee of £30 million and it was confirmed on 28th July, 2023.
Allan Saint-Maximin – Saint-Maximin, 26, is expected to join Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League in a deal worth around £30m on a three-year deal.
Marco Silva – Marco Silva rejected an offer worth £40m from Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli and insisted he retains “total commitment” to Fulham.
Al-Ittihad
Karim Benzema – Al-Ittihad announced the signing of Karim Benzema on a free transfer on 6th June, 2023.
Diogo Jota – Diogo Jota signed a three-year contract and will join up with Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante at the Saudi champions.
N’Golo Kante – On 21 June 2023, free agent Kante agreed to sign for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad on 1 July upon the expiration of his Chelsea contract.
Fabinho – Fabinho is expected to complete £40m Al-Ittihad transfer despite the deal stalling two times.
Al-Hilal
Jorge Jesus – Al-Hilal announced the reappointment of Jesus as their manager for the 2023–24 season on July 1st, 2023.
Ruben Neves – Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal confirmed the transfer which set a new record sale for Wolverhampton reported to be £47 million on 23 June, 2023.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal announced the signing of Milinković-Savić on a three-year deal, for a reported fee of €40 million on 12 July, 2023.
Kalidou Koulibaly – On 25 June 2023, it was announced that Koulibaly signed for Saudi club Al-Hilal for a fee of around £20 million after departing Chelsea.
Mitrovic – Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal are close to striking an agreement with Fulham to sign striker Aleksandar Mitrovic after offering £50m.
Malcom – Zenit’s chairman announced the transfer of Malcolm to Al Hilal of the Saudi Pro League on Sunday 23 July, 2023 and the transfer fee agreed is €60 Million with a 50% advance payment.
Al-Ettifag
Steven Gerrard – Former Aston Villa and Rangers Manager Steven Gerrard became the manager of Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq on 3rd July, 2023.
Jordan Henderson – Henderson completed his move to Al-Ettifaq for a reported transfer fee of £12 million, to rejoin his former teammate at Liverpool, Manager Steven Gerrard on 27 July, 2023.
Divock Origi – Al-Ettifaq are moving to sign Divock Origi from AC Milan after he was left out of Milan’s pre-season tour.
Cristiano Ronaldo has shown his massive influence in the transfer market as top-flight players have moved to the Saudi Pro League after he joined the league.
In a statement, the 5-times Ballon d’Or winner stated that “in one year, more and more top players will come to Saudi”, and that is already happening.
