The big story this summer transfer window has been the rise of the Saudi Professional League as a hot destination looking to attract the biggest stars in European football, and with the Saudis, funded by the $620 billion Public Investment Fund (PIF), taking the market by storm, we bring you the latest updates. About who makes the transition to the kingdom, who says “thanks, but no thanks” and who still thinks about it.
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completed deals
June 6 – Karim Benzema, FW: Real Madrid to Al-Ittihad (free transfer).
The current Ballon d’Or holder started the summer job for Saudi Arabia in style, completing a free transfer from 14-time European champions Real Madrid to two-time Asian champions Al-Ittihad. The 35-year-old France international signed a two-year contract worth €400m ($436m).
June 21 – N’Golo Kante, MF: Chelsea to Al Ittihad (free transfer)
A protracted transfer saga has finally come to an end with French midfielder Kante calling for an end to his seven-year stay at Stamford Bridge to join fellow Etihad international Benzema on a free transfer. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is set to earn €86 million ($109.78 million) a year during his four-year contract with the Jeddah-based club.
June 24 – Ruben Neves, international player: Wolverhampton Wanderers to Al-Hilal (€55m, $60m)
Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers have received a club record fee for the move of their captain, Neves, to Al Hilal on a three-year deal. The Portugal international midfielder has joined the most successful team in Asia.
June 25 – Kalidou Koulibaly, CM: Chelsea to Al-Hilal (17 million pounds, $21.61 million).
Saudi Arabia’s raid on Stamford Bridge continued as the PIF targeted more players. Chelsea cut its losses against Senegalese defender Coulibaly, who joined Al Hilal on a three-year deal, after paying 40 million euros to bring the 32-year-old from Napoli last summer.
June 28 – Edouard Mendy, goalkeeper: Chelsea to Al-Ahly (£16m, $21m).
The Senegal goalkeeper has completed his move from west London to Jeddah on a three-year deal. The 31-year-old won the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Best Goalkeeper Award in 2021 with Chelsea, and will now line up on the other side of the Jeddah derby against former teammate Kante, joining Al Ahly.
July 3 – Steven Gerrard, coach of Al Ettifaq Club
Gerrard is the new manager of Al-Ettifaq club after resuming talks with the club about returning to management, sources tell ESPN’s Mark Ogden, and has agreed to take over the Dammam-based club. The former Liverpool captain, who was sacked by Aston Villa in November 2022 after less than 12 months at Villa Park, rejected an initial offer of a transfer to the agreement last month. But after further discussions with the club’s hierarchy, the 43-year-old has come to an agreement.
July 3 – Marcelo Brozovic, GM: Inter Milan to victory (€18m, $20m)
The 30-year-old Croatia international completed the move from Inter Milan to Al Nasr, where he will team up with Cristiano Ronaldo. Brozovic was interested from Barcelona, but chose Riyadh instead, where he reportedly signed a three-year contract with a salary of €25 million (about $30 million) per season.
Jul 3 – JOTA, FW: Celtic to Etihad (£25m, $31.7m)
The 24-year-old winger joins Benzema and Kante as the Jeddah club’s third signing of the summer, having agreed a three-year contract with the Saudi champions. Jota signed on loan for Celtic from Benfica in September 2021 before the move became permanent in July 2022. Over his two years at Glasgow, the Portuguese contributed 28 goals and 26 assists.
1:15
Does Neymar follow Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema in the Saudi Professional League?
Julian Laurens talks about rumors that Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar is targeted for a move to the Saudi Professional League by Al-Hilal.
Talks are ongoing
Neymar, striker: Paris Saint-Germain to Al-Hilal
The 31-year-old star has been injured for most of the season, and reports say that the Brazilian international may move away from Paris this summer, with Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia one of the parties interested in securing the sensation. However, it remains to be seen if Neymar wants to continue in Europe or move elsewhere.
Hakim Ziyech, Michel: Chelsea to victory
After a stellar World Cup campaign in which he led Morocco to the first semi-final for an African country, Ziyech looks set to return to the Middle East, this time to join Ronaldo, whose side were eliminated in the quarter-finals in Qatar. The 30-year-old is set to join Al-Nassr after a spell of less than three years with Chelsea.
Roberto Firmino, FW: Liverpool to Al-Ahly
Firmino is said to be in advanced talks to join as a free agent now that his contract with Liverpool has expired. The Brazilian forward spent eight seasons at Anfield, scoring 110 goals in 361 appearances, and was a target for Barcelona.
Bernardo Silva (MF): Manchester City to Al Hilal
After fellow international Neves moved to Al-Hilal, City Ace Silva became the subject of a huge offer from the Saudi club. Silva, who shares the same agent as Neves (Jorge Mendes), is wanted by Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona but has yet to make up his mind about his future.
Saul, MF: Atletico Madrid to victory
Saul, the Atletico Madrid midfielder, is considering moving to the Saudi Al-Nassr. However, Diego Simeone’s side will demand a hefty fee with the Spain international’s contract running until 2026.
Wilfried Zaha, striker: Crystal Palace to victory
The 30-year-old winger’s contract is set to expire at the end of June, and although Al-Nassr made an offer (£30m) of $38m a year, reports say Zaha will reject the move. He also attracted the interest of Paris Saint-Germain.
Gianluigi Buffon, goalkeeper: Parma to an unnamed club
Veteran Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been offered a €30m contract by an unnamed Saudi club, according to The Guardian. Corriere dello Sport. The 45-year-old only has a year left on his contract at Parma and will decide in the coming days whether to stay there, move to the Middle East or retire.
1:40
Hislop: Chelsea lost two players to one with Kanté out
Xhaka Hislop details how he thinks Chelsea will cope with the loss of veteran midfielder N’Golo Kante.
rejected deals
Lionel Messi, striker: Paris Saint-Germain to Al-Hilal
With Ronaldo already carrying out his career in victory since January, Saudi Arabia’s hopes of reaching out to arch-rival Messi and recreating their rivalry in the Riyadh derby took a blow when the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner rejected a record €400m ($436m) a year bid from Al-Hilal, choosing instead to join Inter Miami.
Romelu Lukaku, striker: Chelsea to Al-Hilal
After his loan at Inter ended, Lukaku received an offer from Saudi Arabia but rejected this approach, instead pushing for a permanent move to the Italian club, where he played 25 matches last season and scored 10 goals.
Mourinho received an offer from the Saudi club Al-Ahly, and it was said that he met with the club’s president, but the Portuguese coach will remain with Roma for another season after leading them to the European League final. South Korean captain Son announced his intention to stay at Tottenham after he was reported to be subject to an offer of 30 million euros ($32.7 million) per season from Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad. The 30-year-old said, “I have a lot of things to do in the Premier League. Money doesn’t matter to me now, the pride of playing football, playing in my favorite league is important. I want to play more for Tottenham in the Premier League. I’ll prepare well.” When I go back to Tottenham.” The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner turned down a three-year, £170m ($215m) deal to play in Saudi Arabia and signed a new one-year contract at Real Madrid. Modric is one of the greatest midfielders in the world and, despite being lured by the SPL, becomes yet another big player to turn down a move to the Gulf. Al-Khaleej Club is located in the city of Saihat, and it is one of the clubs that crowned Vardy, who previously won the Golden Boot in the English Premier League. according to WatchmanThe 36-year-old – who has 12 months left on his contract with Leicester – is not interested in a move to the Middle East. Flamengo striker Pedro rejected a profitable offer from Al Hilal Saudi Arabia in the Saudi Professional League, Globoesporte reports. Pedro, 26, played for Brazil in the 2022 World Cup after an impressive year with Flamengo, scoring 29 goals, including 12 in the Copa Libertadores. Al-Hilal offered Pedro six times the amount he currently earns in Flamengo, but the sports project did not convince the player. Al-Hilal, who appointed former Flamengo coach Jorge Jesus earlier this week, will not give up on signing Pedro.Jose Mourinho, coach: Roma to Al-Ahly
Son Heung-min, striker: Tottenham Hotspur to Al-Ittihad
Luka Modric, national team player: Real Madrid to Al-Hilal
Jamie Vardy, FW: Leicester City to the Bay
Pedro, FW: Flamingo to Crescent
