The Saudi Pro League flipped over the transfer market. Helped by the endless riches of the Public Investment Fund, the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund that manages roughly $700 billion in government money, Saudi Arabia attracted some of football’s biggest stars this summer. The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo in December was the main cause of the European exodus, starting a trend that evolved into arguably the biggest story in the sport.
Top clubs in the Saudi pro league like Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, And Al-Ahli got a better hold on the PIF’s riches as they are to function under their ownership. With the Saudi transfer window now closed, here’s a comprehensive list of players who made the lucrative switch to Al-Nassr in recent months.
Who signed for Al-Nassr?
Al Nassr Football Club is a professional Saudi Arabian football club based in Riyadh. Formed in 1955, Al Nassr is one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, with 28 official trophies. The club gained massive recognition from football fans all around the world due to Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to the club on a 2-1/2 year deal.
It happened a month after the 37-year-old forward became a free agent when his contract with Premier League club Manchester United was terminated. Several big names have been associated with this club this recent summer and has created a ripple effect not just across the nation but the whole world. Let’s look at some of the hype-worthy transfers for Al-Nassr this season.
Also Read: Al-Nassr FC Players: The club’s goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, forwards and coaches
OTÁVIO (FC PORTO)- REPORTED €60 M
Portugal midfielder Otavio joined Al-Nassr from Portuguese side Porto, Despite interest from Inter Milan, Juventus, Newcastle, and Man United, the 28-year-old attacking midfielder chose the Saudi Pro League and signed a three-year deal for a reported €60 M. fee. Otavio scored 31 goals in 283 games in all competitions for Porto after joining the team in 2014.
SADIO MANÉ– (FC BAYERN MUNCHEN) reported €30M fee
The Senegal star signed a four-year deal on August 2nd, 2023 for Al-Nassr. After a spectacular career for Liverpool, netting 120 goals in 269 games, where he won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, and Club World Cup, Sadio Mane moved to Bayern last year with high hopes but had rather an underwhelming season at Bayern.
He has scored 12 goals in 38 appearances and fallen out of favor with the team for punching teammate Leroy Sane after a Champions League defeat to Manchester City in April. The winger joined Al Nassr for £30m deal and on £650,000 a week. Mane has signed a contract until 2027 which means he stands to earn around £136m in total if he sees out the deal.
AYMERIC LAPORTE (MANCHESTER CITY ) – reported £27.5 M fee
Signed in the January transfer window of the 2017-18 season a €65m signing from Athletic Club, Laporte had slipped down the pecking order at City after suffering with injury over recent seasons. He won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups, and the Champions League during his time at City.
The 29-year-old defender struggled for minutes at Manchester City last year, making only 12 Premier League appearances. He had two years remaining on his City contract so Al Nassr picked up a quality player, who is still only 29, for a cheap fee.
SEKO FOFANA (LENS) – reported £25M fee
On 18 July 2023, 28-year-old Seko Fofana signed for Al Nassr on a three-year deal reportedly for a fee of €25 million. He helped Lens to a second-place finish last season, only one point behind league winners Paris Saint-Germain. The midfielder joined Lens in 2020, where he scored 21 goals and provided 11 assists in 112 appearances, helping the club consolidate their place in the French top flight.
The Ivory Coast international became a shareholder in Lens after leaving the club. widely regarded as one of Ligue 1’s best midfielders and has previously attracted interest from the Premier League and PSG. However, he was poised to move to Al Nassr, the club Cristiano Ronaldo joined in December.
MARCELO BROZOVIC (INTER MILAN) – reported €18M fee
Marcelo BrozoviÄ is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and the Croatia national team. Brozovic had interest from Barcelona, but he opted for Riyadh instead, where he has reportedly signed a three-year deal with a salary of nearly $30m per season. The 30-year-old Croatia international joined Inter in 2015 and helped them win Serie A in the 2020-21 season followed by two Italian Cup trophies.
ALLEX TELLIS (MANCHESTER UNITED) – reported €4.6M fee
After a year-long loan to Seville last season Manchester United parted ways with Brazil defender Alex Telles for reportedly €4.6M fee. while at Seville he helped knock out Man United en route to lifting the Europa League title. But now the 30-year-old has reunited with former Manchester United teammate Ronaldo as he signed a three-year deal with one of the top teams of the Saudi Pro League.
RAGHED AL-NAJJAR (AL-TAAWOUN)
Portuguese coach Luis Castro sought for a goalkeeper and after many talks with Al-Taawoun, Al-Nassr signed Raghed Al-Najjar until 30-Jun-2026 earning £3K per week. The 27-year-old is currently on the Saudi National squad. Since his most recent transfer to Al-Nassr Raghed al- Najjar’s current transfer value is between €90K and €0.2M
Who else was linked?
The PIF is keen to keep adding players to its ever-growing stable of stars after assuming control of Saudi Arabia’s four biggest clubs – the league’s founding members Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Nassr. The summer spree may be over, but don’t expect the rumors to slow down. The January window will be open before you know it.
Who rejected the move?
ERIC DIER: TOTTENHAM TO AL-NASSR
Some eyebrows were raised due to Eric Dier’s absence from the bench for Tottenham Hotspur in their week 1 draw at Brentford, despite featuring heavily in all of Spurs’ preseason games. Which seemed rather curious at that time. But, According to Mohamed Alkaoud, a reporter for BBC Arabic, Al-Nassr was said to have been ‘pressing interest’ in Dier who of course would be another statement signing if pursued.
Dier has 49 England caps and 270 Premier League appearances to his name. The 29-year-old will look to regain his form with regular football for Al-Nassr, and he should prove to be a quality acquisition for the Saudi outfit. Whether Dier would be willing to leave Tottenham for Saudi Arabia is another question altogether. Recent reports have confirmed that Dier is staying at Tottenham, at least for now. However, he faces a monstrous uphill battle to recapture his senior position at the club.
ALISSON BECKER- LIVERPOOL TO AL- NASSR
Spicy rumors surfaced during the last week of the Saudi pro league summer transfer window claiming that Al-Nassr, the club that has Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane among its squad, had made an approach for Liverpool’s Brazilian goalkeeper. But reports from sources close to Alisson confirmed that the Liverpool goalkeeper has not been the subject of an approach from Saudi Arabia. While The Mirror reported on Al-Nassr’s interest, Jurgen Klopp isn’t entertaining the idea. He doesn’t want to lose his goalkeeper with the season already underway, so all offers were duly rejected.
HAKIM ZIYECH, MF: CHELSEA TO AL NASSR
After a stellar World Cup campaign in Qatar in which he led Morocco to the first semi-final for an African nation, Ziyech was set with a move from Chelsea to the Middle East, this time to team up with Ronaldo. However, concerns were raised over his knee and the deal fell through. Ziyech instead moved to Galatasaray on a season-long loan with an obligation to sign permanently.
SAUL, MF: ATLETICO MADRID TO AL NASSR
Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul was considering a move to Al Nassr. However, Diego Simeone’s side demanded a significant fee, with the Spain international still under contract until 2026, and nothing came of it.
WILFRIED ZAHA, FW: CRYSTAL PALACE TO AL NASSR
The 30-year-old winger’s contract at Palace expired at the end of June, and although Al Nassr made a (£30m) $38m per year offer, Zaha rejected the move and signed for Turkish club Galatasaray.