The big story of this summer transfer window has been the rise of the Saudi Pro League as a hot destination looking to attract some of the biggest stars in European football. With Saudi Arabia, bankrolled by the $620 billion Public Investment Fund (PIF), taking the market by storm, the league spent just over $1 billion, with a net spend of -$907m, which is second only to the Premier League’s -$1.39bn.
Huge salaries are a big reason for many players in European leagues moving to the Middle East. Most footballers will retire from the sport in their late thirties, provided they haven’t been forced into an early end by injuries. Therefore, maximizing their earnings can often be a priority over competing for bigger trophies.
When does the Saudi Pro League Transfers Window Close?
The official transfer window for the Saudi Pro League started on July 1, 2023, and stretched until September 11, 2023. The winter transfer window for the Saudi Arabia Pro League will start on Jan 1, 2024, and close on Jan 30, 2024, Opens for 147 days.
Top 10 Most Expensive Transfers In Saudi Pro League 2023-24
1. NEYMAR – €100M (PSG TO AL-HILAL)
Paris Saint Germain (PSG) quickly gave the green light to Al-Hilal’s proposal of a whopping €90 million for the 31-year-old star. As per reports, the French club bought the Brazilian star for a world record €222 million fee back in 2017. The winger leaves after a six-year spell in the capital of France.
Initially, Neymar was brought to the Paris-based club with the ambition of lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy. But even with the trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe, that dream didn’t come to actuality. So, the club has now decided to cash in and move on. Plus, it will help keep their accounts in check with the financial fair play regulations.
2. MALCOM – €60M (ZENIT ST. PETERS BURG TO AL-HILAL)
The former Zenit St. Petersburg winger Malcom Filipe Silva de Oliveira has experienced sharing the dressing room with legendary players at FC Barcelona. Although it was a bitter experience in the end, just after a year of joining the Catalan Giants, Malcom decided to get more playing time which Zenit FC offered.
Now the Brazilian, instead of trying to break into a bigger European team, has decided to move to the Saudi Pro League’s Al-Hilal. Zenit’s CEO Alexandr Medvedev told RIA Novosti that Al-Hilal would pay 60 million euros ($66.38 million) for the transfer. The 26-year-old is Al-Hilal’s fourth signing this summer after Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly, Serbia midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves.
3. RUBEN NEVES – €55M (WOLVES TO AL-HILAL)
Ruben Neves showcased great showmanship both on and off the ball in his games in the Arab Champions Cup and is now set to play Saudi Pro League football this year. Wolves reportedly accepted $55 million in transfer fees from Al-Hilal. He is a surprising signing, as at 26, he could have easily made the starting XI of most Champions League clubs across Europe.
However, the Portuguese midfielder is set to pocket almost €18.36 million per year, a significant rise from his €57,632 per week salary at Molineux. Neves left the Wanderers after making 253 appearances and scoring 30 goals. “No other player has made such an impact on the pitch in gold and black during the last six years having featured more than 250 times in a remarkable period in the club’s history,” Wolves said in a statement.
4. FABINHO – €46.7M (LIVERPOOL TO AL-ITTIHAD)
Fabinho made 49 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool in the 2022–23 season. The Reds had a bitter season as per their standards, which soon followed a drastic midfield transition this summer. The 29-year-old Brazilian was allowed to depart for €46.7 million in transfer fees, which Al-Ittihad agreed with Liverpool. By now, the defensive midfielder has featured 483 times for several clubs combined during his ongoing career, scoring 44 goals and making 33 assists.
5. SERGEJ MILINKOVIÄ-SAVIÄ – €40M (LAZIO TO AL-HILAL)
Since moving to Lazio in the summer of 2015, not a year has passed without Sergej Milinkovi-Savi being linked with a move. Although it never materialized until Al-Hilal came calling. After leaving the Belgium club KRC Genk in 2015 to play for Biancocelestis, the Serbian central midfielder appeared 341 times for Lazio between the summer of 2015 and 2023. In his time with the Italian outfit, Milinkovi-Savi managed to net 69 goals and 59 assists.
6. RIYAD MAHREZ – €35M (MAN CITY TO AL-AHLI)
Last season, the winger was involved in winning a treble with Manchester City. Although he wasn’t involved in the FA Cup and Champions League finals even for a minute, the world knows how good Pep Guardiola is. Now at 32 and getting his hands on the Champions League winner medal along with five Premier Leagues, the Algerian wizard made up his mind to try new things. Man City was happy to receive this much money for him.
7. SADIO MANÉ – €30M (BAYERN MUNICH TO AL-NASSR)
The Senegalese left winger has already experienced success with Al-Nassr after joining on August 1. Sadio Mané got to celebrate lifting the 2023–24 United Arab Club Champions Cup trophy alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, who was signed in January. Ronaldo lacked exciting players around him. Now the former Bayern Munich and Liverpool man is set to aid in that department brilliantly. Bayern accepted a €30 million fee for Mané just after a year of his service.
8. JOTA – €29.1M (CELTIC TO AL-ITTIHAD)
The Portuguese winger closed his Celtic chapter in just a season as Karim Benzema’s Al-Ittihad came calling. Even two big paycheck-receiving Frenchmen, Karim Benzema, and N’Golo Kante are left behind in this deal, as they were brought on a free transfer. After scoring 15 goals and providing 12 assists last season, the 24-year-old winger moves to the riches of Saudi Arabia. Jota, though, isn’t the highest transfer signing in Al-Ittihad’s history. The former Liverpool player has that spot.
9. ROGER IBAÑEZ – €28.5M (AS ROMA TO AL-AHLI)
Another talent that Al-Ahli brought home is Roger Ibañez. The Jeddah-based club convinced AS Roma to let the Brazilian leave for a €28.5 million fee. Actually, he is the latest addition to the ranks after the official announcement on August 10. Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, Alain Saint-Maximin, and Franck Kessie have already claimed their dressing room seats before him.
10. ALLAN SAINT-MAXIMIN – €27.2M (NEWCASTLE UNITED TO AL-AHLI)
After mesmerizing St. James’ Park with his quick feet and trickery, Allan Saint-Maximin moved to Al-Ahli on July 30. The move initially seemed a bit unconvincing since Newcastle fans loved the player and he is just 26. But as manager Eddie Howe had mentioned earlier, the club needed to sell a player this summer to comply with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play Regulations. Newcastle had to do business. So a €27.2 million transfer fee was accepted by The Magpies for Saint-Maximin.