The Saudi government took football as one of the prime focuses of their Saudi Vision 2030 program and unleashed a spending spree from last season to lure top stars from European leagues. The state-run Public Investment Fund took 75% stakes in four founding members of the league namely Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr to make them financially strong to pull off eye-catching deals. The plan is to compete with the interest European leagues gain around the globe. Hence, Saudi Arabia became the new place for superstars to move in not for retirement plans as in MLS or other non-European leagues but for a new challenge to add to their CV.
It all began with the groundbreaking signing of football megastar Cristiano Ronaldo with more star names joining in the eventual seasons. This campaign has not been different either with clubs now tilting towards signing players in their prime alongside the regular veteran deals. Al-Ittiahd stands out this summer for being the busiest in the transfer window after their poor show last time. The Riyadh clubs Al Hilal and Al Nassr have made marquee signings to upgrade certain positions after finishing in the top two last season. Not only the PIF-backed clubs but other teams like Al Qadsiah FC have gambled on star signings to also have their say in the market.
Let’s look at the high profile transfers for the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League.
Moussa Diaby - Al Ittihad ($61m)
The most expensive signing this summer has been Moussa Diaby joining from Aston Villa and one of the star-studded additions to the Al-Ittihad squad in this transfer window. The player also joins in his prime at the age of 25 after emerging as one of the high-profile talents during his Bayer Levekursen days coming from PSG academy. Diaby contributed to 94 goals, 49 goals and 45 assists in all competitions, in 172 appearances for Die Werkself before switching to the Premier League and helping Aston Villa qualify for their first Champions League season since 1982-83. The winger is set to fire up his new team in the league having also earned 11 caps for France.
Ivan Toney - Al Ahli ($55m)
An unexpected transfer took place as Brentford’s and one of the Premier League’s top strikers currently, Ivan Toney traveled to Saudi Arabia to join Al Ahli in a $55m deal. The forward is touted to be the future number nine for England proving to be the hero for the Bees helping them promotion to the Premier League in the first place and making them a competitive unit every season. The 28-year-old has scored 67 goals for Brentford before making the lucrative move to Al Ahli. The track record looks excellent for the player who started his career in the lower leagues of English football and showered his goal-scoring habits wherever he went. It would only be a surprise if Toney fails to hit the ground running even in a different atmosphere than his home.
Mohamed Simakan - Al Nassr ($39m)
The top marquee signing for Al Nassr has been Mohamed Simakan from the Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig to strengthen their defence for the new season. Capable of playing as a centre-back and a right-back, largely accepting the latter role in the past season, the Frenchman is expected to be a key player for Cristiano Ronaldo’s team. Simakan was a key performer for Leipzig after announcing himself to the world with Strasbourg, helping the club win two back-to-back DFB Pokal titles and one Super Cup in his four-year stay. The 24-year-old also became influential in Leipzig’s journey into continental competitions, the Europa League or the prestigious Champions League.
João Cancelo - Al Hilal ($27m)
Al Hilal experienced an incredible campaign last time, winning their 19th league title in dominating fashion without losing a single game. So, it was understandable for the team to make no high-profile changes in the squad or disrupt the dressing room with more additions. However, when the opportunity arrived the record holders did not think twice about securing the signature of the star full-back João Cancelo. A famous name during his Manchester City days, Cancelo has also played a significant part in Portugal’s Euro and World Cup campaigns. The 30-year-old won accolades wherever he went and hopes to add more trophies to Al Hilal’s cabinet, the eighth club of his career. Undoubtedly, the player is the most high-profile buy by any club in the Saudi League this season.
Steven Bergwijn - Al Ittihad ($20m)
Like Cancelo, Steven Bergwijn is also a full-time international with the Netherlands who is joining the Saudi League. A winger by trade, Bergwijn adds to the firepower of Al Ittihad containing the likes of Moussa Diaby and 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema to make them a force again in the league. The player was a star name during his PSV Eindhoven days but failed to replicate his form after signing for Tottenham. His return to Eredivisie with Ajax changed his career and he became a regular name with the national team. The 26-year-old now wishes to provide his magic with a new club on a different continent using his European football experience.
Houssem Aouar - Al Ittihad ($11m)
The next big signing Al Ittihad pulled off is Houssem Aouar from AS Roma. The midfielder was in high demand for top clubs in Europe during his days with Lyon with his best performances of his career coming in the club’s run to the semifinals of the 2019-20 Champions League season, upsetting giants like Juventus and Manchester City. After a season stint in Serie A, Aouar will hope to make his name in the Saudi League with other signings like Portuguese international Danilo Pereria in the middle of the park and joining the likes of Kante and Fabinho.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Al Qadsiah FC ($5.9m)
Not only PIF-backed clubs but also teams like Al Qadsiah FC, owned by Aramco, have dove into the market to bring European stars to the Saudi League. Among them, the eye-catching name has been of former Arsenal and Dortmund goal-getter Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabon international joins from French club Marseille after showering goals in France, Germany, England and Spain in an enthralling career. Aubameyang has scored a total of 334 goals in his career and won trophies like the DFB Pokal, FA Cup and La Liga, grabbing individual awards as well. Undoubtedly, Al Qadsiah FC’s striking front will be one of the best in the league with his signing.
Nacho Fernández - Al Qadsiah FC ($3.9m)
The signings do not end for Al Qadsiah FC there as the club pulled off another magnificent signing in the form of a record Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Nacho Fernandez. The 34-year-old is the product of Los Blancos’s academy and went to make over 300 appearances for the club. He is the second most decorated player in the club's history having won 26 trophies for a single team. Nacho is a utility-filled player every club dreams of who is not technically gifted but ready to give his all for the task. His wealth of experience and leadership will be of great help to Al Qadsiah FC who are also boosted by the signing of Olympic star Ezequiel Fernández, Uruguayan international Nahitan Nandez and former Wolfsburg keeper Koen Casteels.
Giacomo Bonaventura - Al Shabab FC ($3.9m)
Al Shabab FC have also secured star name signings to stay in the race with former Wolves forward Daniel Podence joining the team. However, the headline transfer has been of Giacomo Bonaventura, once a household name at AC Millan before transferring to Fiorentina. The Italian made over 100 appearances for both these clubs and proved to be a lynchpin in the midfield. The 35-year-old also captained the sides on many occasions with his leadership being another key factor for his transfer to Al Shabab. Another aspect of Bonaventura is scoring clutch goals with 77 strikes to his name in his elongated Serie A career since making his debut in 2007.
