Saudi Pro League (SPL) is one of the most important football leagues in the country. It was founded in 1976 and had 16 teams competing each season. The 2023-24 season will be the 48th edition of the Saudi Pro-League, with 18 teams competing. The league has grown in size and quality by recruiting the top footballers and coaches from different parts of the world. Saudi Pro League has 18 teams comprising 14 teams from the previous season and 4 teams that are Al-Ahli, Al-Hazem, Al-Okhdood, and Al-Riyadh joined as promoted teams.
The league is continuously implementing its strategy to become one of the world’s top 10 football leagues. Recently, the CEO of the Saudi Pro League interim Saad Allazeez declared in the media their plan to increase the competitiveness among the teams, which will help long-term achievement in the sports sector. To pursue this goal, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) owns 75% of stakes in four of the Middle Eastern country’s biggest soccer clubs i.e. Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad.
SAUDI PRO LEAGUE: Current Owners, Transfers and Team-Wise Analysis
1. ABHA
- It was founded in 1966.
- The Manager of the team is Czesław Michniewicz.
- The President of the club is Mahmoud El Khatib
- The owner of the team is the Ministry of Sport.
- Transfers report:
- Mohammed Naji has come from Al-Batin and it is a free transfer.
- Saleh Al-Qumayzi has come from Al-Hilal U23 and it’s a free transfer.
- Abha Club has sold Saeed Al-Hamsl for free to Khaleej.
- Felipe Caicedo, an international footballer has joined Abha
2. Al-Ahli
- It was founded in 1937.
- The Manager of the team is Matthias Jaissle.
- The President of the club is Mahmoud El Khatib.
- The owner of the team is the Public Investment Fund.
- Transfer report:
- Allan Saint-Maximin has joined this club with the amount of £23m.
- Riyad Mahrez has joined this club with the amount of £30m.
- Edouard Mendy has joined this team with the amount of £16m.
- Roberto Firmino has joined this team with free transfer costs.
3. Al-Ettifaq
- It was founded in 1941.
- The Manager of the team is Steven Gerrard.
- The President of the club is Khalid.
- The owner of the team is the Ministry of Sport.
- Transfer report-
- Jordan Henderson has joined this club with the amount of £12m.
- Jack Hendry has joined this club with the amount of €6.9m.
- This team has sold Abdullah Al-Salem, Saeed Al-Mowalad, Amin Younes, etc. free of cost.
4. Al-Fateh
- It was founded in 1958.
- The Manager of the team is Slaven Bilic.
- The President of the club is Mansour Al-Afaliq.
- The owner of the club is the Ministry of Sport.
- Transfer report-
- Cristian Tello, an international player has signed up to join this club.
- Jason Denayer, Saeed Al-Basisi, and Jordan Harrison have joined this team with no transfer cost.
5. Al-Fayha
- It was initiated in 1953
- The Manager of the team is Vuk Rasovic
- The President of the club is Tawfiq Al-Modaiheem
- The owner of the club is the Ministry of Sport
- Transfer report-
- Gojko Cimirot, Ahmed Al-Kassar, and Nawaf Al-Harthi are the signed players of the league.
6. Al-Hazem
- It was founded in 1957.
- The Manager of the team is Filipe Gouveia.
- The President of the club is Sulaiman Al-Malik
- The owner of the club is the Ministry of Sport
- Transfer report-
- Faiz Selemani, Aymen Dahmen, Nawaf Al-Habashi, Mohamed Al-Thani, etc. are some endorsed players.
7. Al-Hilal
- It was founded in 1957
- The Manager of the team is Jorge Jesus
- The President of the club is Fahad bin Nafel
- The owner of the club is the Public Investment Fund
- Transfer report-
- Malcom has joined this club with the amount of £51.5m.
- Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has attached with this team the remuneration of £34.2m.
- Ruben Neves has collaborated with the amount of £47.1m.
- Kalidou Koulibaly has joined this club with the amount of £15.7m.
- Moussa Marega is an international player who has conjugated with this team.
8. Al-Ittihad
- It was founded in 1927
- The Manager of the team is Nuno Espirito Santo.
- The President of the club is Anmar Al Haily.
- The owner of the club is the Public Investment Fund.
- Transfer report-
- Jota has collaborated with the amount of £25m.
- Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante, the famous players, have transferred free of cost.
- Romarinho is a foreign player who has been attached to this team.
9. Al-Khaleej
- It was founded in 1945
- The Manager of the team is Pedro Emanuel
- The President of the club is Alaa Al-Heml
- The owner is the Ministry of Sport
- Transfer report-
- Pedro Rebocho, Lisandro Lopez, Ivo Rodrigues, Hamad Al-Abdan, etc. are some famous signed players of this summer session.
10. Al-Nassr
- It was founded in 1955
- The Manager of the team is Luis Castro
- The President of the club is Musalli Al- Muammar
- The owner of the club is the Public Investment Fund
- Transfer report-
- Sadio Mane has joined the club with a fee of £24m.
- Alex Telles and Cristiano Ronaldo, the famous players, have transferred to this team with a free transfer cost.
- Seko Fofana has been conjugated with the team with a remuneration of £21.6m.
- Marcelo Brozovic has joined the club with a fee of £15.4m.
- Anderson Talisca has been attached with the amount of £6.9m.
11. Al-Okhdood
- It was founded in 1976
- The Manager of the team is Jeorge Mendonca
- The President of the team is Sami Al Fadehl
- The Ministry of Sport is the owner still now.
- Transfer report-
- Andre Burca, Paulo Vítor, Awadh Faraj, etc. are some famous authorized players of this summer session.
- Bandar Wahishi, Hamad Al-Jayzani, Nasser Al-Hadhood, etc. will play in this summer session.
13. Al-Riyadh
- It was founded in 1953
- The Manager of the team is Yannick Ferrera
- The owner of this team is the Ministry of Sports.
- Transfer report-
- Birama Toure, Hussain Al-Nuweqi, Alin Tosca, etc. players will play for this club in the 2023-24 league.
14. Al-Shabab
- It was founded in 1947
- The President of the team is Khalid Al-Baltan
- The owner of the club is the Ministry of Sport
- Transfer report-
- Ever Banega & Grzegorz Krychowiak are the international players who have joined this team.
15. Al-Taawoun
- It was established in 1956
- The Manager of the team is Pericles Chamusca
- The President of the club is Saud Al-Rashoodi
- The owner is the club is the Ministry of Sport
- Transfer report–
- Waleed Al-Ahmed, Ahmed Saleh Bahusayn, and Flavio are the signed players for the 2023-24 session.
16. Al-Tai
- It was established in 1961
- The Manager of the team is Kresimir Rezic
- The President of the club is Turki Al-Dhabaan
- The owner of the club is the Ministry of Sport
- Transfer report-
1. Abdulrahman Al-Harthi, Enzo Roco, Robert Bauer, etc. players have the authorization to play for this summer session.
17. Al-Wehda
- It was established in 1935
- The Manager of the team is Giorgos Donis.
- The President of the club is Sultan Azhar
- The owner of the club is the Ministry of Sport
- Transfer report-
No transfer has happened so far.
18. Damac
- It was established in 1972
- The Manager of the team is Cosmin Contra
- The President of the club is Khaled Al Masha’at
- The owner of the club is Ministry of the Sport
- Transfer report-
- Hassan Abusharara, Sultan Faqihi, Fahad Al-Johani, etc. are some recent summer signing players.
Conclusion-
The decision to privatize the clubs in the Saudi top flight has been taken to further develop the sport. According to the Minister of Sport, it will enhance the level of competition and help to make it among the top ten leagues in the world. This privatization movement will increase the turnover to SAR1.8 billion and maximize the market value to more than SAR8 billion (Saudi Riyal) within the coming 5 to 7 years. This league has become an attractive platform for elite players, and adding more fuel to the fund will predominantly take care of the coaching and the development of the players, which will help it reach its goal.