The Saudi Pro League kicks off the 2024-25 season on Thursday, 22 August. Unlike last summer’s frenzy, this year’s transfer market has been surprisingly subdued. Last year, the Saudi Pro League made headlines with its extravagant spending. The league brought in star players like Neymar, Karim Benzema, and Riyad Mahrez to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Middle East. Collectively, the league’s clubs spent over £700 million. This made it one of the most talked-about transfer windows in football history.
However, this summer’s spending has not matched those lofty expectations. The wider transfer market has also experienced a downturn, contributing to the Saudi Pro League’s quieter approach. Simon Chadwick, a professor of sport and geopolitical economy at Skema Business School in Paris, explained this restraint to BBC Sport. He attributed it to “a combination of harsh economic conditions, the late finishing of continental national team tournaments, and clubs across various territories trying to navigate local financial regulations.”
Despite rumors linking the Saudi Pro League to high-profile players like Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr., no blockbuster transfer deals have materialized this summer. The most notable attempt was Al-Ahli’s £35 million bid for Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney, which was rejected last week.
Chadwick pointed out that the Saudi Pro League made a splash with big spending on expensive imported talent. However, sustaining this level of investment is challenging. He noted that “continuing to do so in perpetuity is expensive, doesn’t guarantee success, can engender instability, and undermines national-team performances.” As a result, there may be a shift toward more strategic and considered thinking within Saudi Arabian football, rather than the free-spending approach seen two years ago.
Despite the reduced spending, the Saudi Pro League still boasts a wealth of star power. Most of the big names from last season remain in the league. This summer, 14 players from the Saudi Pro League participated in the European Championship. This group included Al-Ahli’s Turkey center-back Merih Demiral. Demiral told BBC Sport, “We showed everyone that the Saudi Pro League is not an easy league. We are working very hard here – our training and our games are not easy like many people think.”
The league’s “big four” clubs are owned by the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). These clubs include Al-Ahli, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, and Al-Ittihad, which remain the dominant forces. Last season, Al-Hilal clinched their 19th domestic league title, finishing 14 points ahead of Al-Nassr. They also extended their world record for consecutive match wins to 34. Al-Hilal strengthened their squad with signings like Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ruben Neves. These players made an immediate impact.
However, the big question for Al-Hilal is when Neymar, who played just five games before suffering a knee ligament injury in October, will return to action. The club hopes to see him back on the pitch in September. Al-Nassr scored 100 goals and finished 17 points above Al-Ahli in third place. Despite this, they ended the season empty-handed. This has increased the pressure on coach Luis Castro after a poor pre-season performance.
Jeddah’s Al-Ittihad were champions in 2022-23 but struggled last season. Despite high-profile signings like N’Golo Kante, Benzema, and Fabinho, they finished fifth. The club replaced Marcelo Gallardo with Laurent Blanc as manager after a disappointing season. Al-Ittihad fans are optimistic about the upcoming season. The signing of Moussa Diaby from Aston Villa for around £50 million, the summer’s biggest deal so far, has bolstered this optimism.
Meanwhile, Al-Ahli has retained attacking talents like Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, and Firas Al-Buraikan, the league’s leading Saudi scorer. Although Allan Saint-Maximin left for Fenerbahce, Firmino has shown signs of improvement in pre-season, giving hope to the club’s passionate fanbase.
Overall, the Saudi Pro League aims to improve on last season’s average attendance of just over 8,000. While the “big four” enjoy strong support, the league’s priority is to boost attendance across all clubs.
New names have also entered the Saudi Pro League this season. Al-Qadsiah, recently promoted to the top tier, has made significant moves. The club, now owned by Aramco, one of the world’s richest companies, has brought in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Marseille. Spanish center-back Nacho from Real Madrid has also joined. With a strong Spanish-speaking contingent, Al-Qadsiah aims to compete at the highest level in the Saudi Pro League this season.
