The recent exodus of notable footballers moving from the high-profile European leagues to Saudi Arabia shows no sign of slowing. This massive shift began with the Portuguese football superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, who made a landmark move from Manchester United to Al Nassr in January. This major transfer has sparked a trend with many other prominent players also making the switch to the Saudi Pro League.
Let's take a look at some of the most eye-catching deals signed by clubs in the Saudi Pro League during this transfer window:
Karim Benzema: Real Madrid to Al Ittihad
The former Real Madrid star, Karim Benzema, left the club as the second-highest goalscorer and top assist provider. The current Ballon d'Or holder and five-time UEFA Champions League winner signed a two-year contract with Al Ittihad, with the option to extend for a third year. This deal is reportedly worth a staggering $213m per season.
N’Golo Kante: Chelsea to Al Ittihad
Joining Benzema in Jeddah is French international N’Golo Kante. After seven successful seasons with Chelsea, which saw him lift both Premier League and Champions League trophies, Kante will reportedly earn $109.8m per year with Al Ittihad for the next three years.
Jota: Celtic to Al Ittihad
Portuguese winger Jota, who had a standout two seasons with Celtic, has joined Al Ittihad on a three-year contract. The reported transfer fee for this move was $31.73m.
Ruben Neves: Wolverhampton Wanderers to Al Hilal
Ruben Neves, at just 26 years old, is one of the first big names to join the Saudi league in the prime of his career. The Portuguese midfielder signed a three-year deal with Al Hilal, for a reported fee of $60m.
Kalidou Koulibaly: Chelsea to Al Hilal
Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly is also set to join Al Hilal, following a solitary season at Chelsea. The reported transfer fee for Koulibaly was approximately $21.6m.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic: Lazio to Al Hilal
Serbian international Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has signed a contract with Al Hilal until 2026. Italian media outlets have reported a transfer fee of around $44.5m for the midfielder.
Edouard Mendy: Chelsea to Al Ahli
Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy will be joining Al Ahli on a three-year deal, following three seasons at Chelsea. The transfer fee for the 31-year-old was reportedly $20.24m.
Roberto Firmino: Liverpool to Al Ahli
After eight successful seasons with Liverpool, Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino is heading to Al Ahli on a free transfer.
Riyad Mahrez: Manchester City to Al Ahli
Algerian international Riyad Mahrez will be moving to Al Ahli following a treble-winning season with Manchester City. The transfer agreement, worth a reported $38.5m, will see Mahrez join Al Ahli for the next three years.
Marcelo Brozovic: Inter Milan to Al Nassr
Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic has signed a three-year deal with Al Nassr. The transfer fee was reported to be $19.6m.
Seko Fofana: Lens to Al Nassr
Ivory Coast midfielder Seko Fofana has also joined Al Nassr on a three-year deal. The transfer fee for Fofana was reported to be around $28.1m.
Alex Telles: Manchester United to Al Nassr
Brazilian defender Alex Telles is set for a reunion with former United teammate Ronaldo at Al Nassr. Telles signed a contract until 2025, and media reports suggested United would receive about $7.71m for the deal.
The influx of top-tier talent to the Saudi Pro League is a clear indication of the league's growing influence and financial strength in the world of football. It remains to be seen whether this trend will continue and how it will reshape the landscape of international football in the coming years.