The Saudi Pro League – also known as the Roshn Saudi League (RSL) for sponsorship reasons – dominated the 2023 summer transfer window with many high-profile players leaving Europe in favour of a move to the rapidly rising division.
Cristiano Ronaldo started the trend, of course, taking an enormous contract at the start of the year to play for Al-Nassr.
And, now, with the January transfer window here, Football FanCast takes you through the latest news and transfer rumours…
Why players moved to the Saudi Pro League
Essentially, it came down to investment from the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, or PIF. You’ll have heard a lot about it when PIF purchased Newcastle United, of course.
The same fund purchased majority stakes in Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad. The former two are the biggest clubs in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The latter two are the biggest in Jeddah, the country’s second-largest city. All four now have incredible wealth behind them and are looking to make waves.
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Saudi Pro League winter transfer window dates
The Saudi Pro League’s winter transfer window opened on 1st January 2024, which near enough aligns with the rest of Europe’s top leagues.
The window will remain open until 30th January, whilst the other leading divisions in Europe will slam their doors shut on the 31st, and in some cases, 1st February.
2024 January transfer window: Open & close dates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Competition | Window Opens | Window Closes | Time (GMT) |
Saudi Pro League | 1st January | 30th January | Unknown |
Premier League | 1st January | 1st February | 11pm |
EFL | 1st January | 1st February | 11pm |
LaLiga | 2nd January | 31st January | 11pm |
Serie A | 2nd January | 31st January | 7pm |
Bundesliga | 1st January | 1st February | 5pm |
Ligue 1 | 1st January | 31st January | Unknown |
Players who joined the Saudi Pro League
A steady stream of players have followed in Ronaldo’s footsteps by ditching European football for a go at the Saudi Pro League and that trend is expected to continue this month.
The RSL outlaid an eye-watering £701.3m on transfer fees over the summer, which doesn’t account for the colossal wages on top of that.
So who decided to make the move? Here’s a rundown of the 20 most expensive signings:
RSL’s most expensive summer signings (2023) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Player | Left | Joined | Fee |
1 | Neymar | Paris Saint-Germain | Al-Hilal | £78.3m |
2 | Malcom | Zenit St. Petersburg | Al-Hilal | £52.2m |
3 | Otávio | Porto | Al-Nassr | £52.2m |
4 | Rúben Neves | Wolves | Al-Hilal | £47.8m |
5 | Aleksandar Mitrović | Fulham | Al-Hilal | £45.7m |
6 | Fabinho | Liverpool | Al-Ittihad | £40.6m |
7 | Sergej Milinkovic-Savic | Lazio | Al-Hilal | £34.7m |
8 | Riyad Mahrez | Manchester City | Al-Ahli | £30.4m |
9 | Sadio Mané | Bayern Munich | Al-Ahli | £26m |
10 | Gabri Veiga | Celta Vigo | Al-Ahli | £26m |
11 | Roger Ibañez | AS Roma | Al-Ahli | £26m |
12 | Jota | Celtic | Al-Ittihad | £25.3m |
13 | Aymeric Laporte | Manchester City | Al-Nassr | £23.9m |
14 | Allan Saint-Germain | Newcastle United | Al-Ahli | £23.6m |
15 | Seko Fofana | Lens | Al-Nassr | £21.7m |
16 | Kalidou Koulibaly | Chelsea | Al-Hilal | £20m |
17 | Luiz Felipe | Real Betis | Al-Ittihad | £19.1m |
18 | Bono | Sevilla | Al-Hilal | £18.2m |
19 | Merih Demiral | Atalanta | Al-Ahli | £17.3m |
20 | Edouard Mendy | Chelsea | Al-Ahli | £16m |
Latest Saudi Pro League transfer rumours
With the winter transfer window having been open now for just over a week, things have been rather quiet in comparison to the summer, which will please Michael Emenalo, the league’s director of football, as he is keen to avoid a busy January.
“I’m hoping it (January) is not very busy, because I think the job that was done has been quite interesting and aggressive, and most of the clubs, I believe, have what they need.
“Hopefully the attention will now turn to work within the training facilities to improve these players and to allow the time to adapt and perform,” Emenalo said.
Nevertheless, there are a few rumours that have been circling around already this winter…
Rade Krunic
AC Milan to Al-Shabab
According to Tuttosport (as per KingFut), Saudi club Al-Shabab have opened negotiations with AC Milan over a deal for Rade Krunic.
The Saudi club currently find themselves at risk of relegation after a very poor start to the season, which has led them to look for potential signings, with the need to strengthen being rather important right now.
With 25 goals being conceded in 19 games, you can understand why they’re taking a look at a defensive midfielder like Krunic. He’s made 14 appearances for AC Milan this season, which includes four in the Champions League.
Jordan Henderson
Al-Ettifaq to Newcastle United
It was recently revealed by the Daily Mail that Jordan Henderson is desperate for a return to the Premier League.
And the former Liverpool midfielder is now been linked with a surprising name, as the Spanish media claim that Newcastle United are interested in a move for Henderson, who was born in Sunderland.
This is a rumour that caught reporter Dean Jones by surprise, as he claimed it would be the ‘shock of the window‘ when talking to GiveMeSport.
To be fair, Newcastle United could do with a defensive midfielder after Sandro Tonali’s betting ban, and with PIF’s links to the Saudi Pro League, this is definitely one that you can’t write off.
Kevin De Bruyne
Manchester City to Various
According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Saudi Pro League clubs are desperate to bring Kevin De Bruyne to the Middle East.
He is considered a ‘top priority’ for the biggest Saudi clubs, but with him only just returning from injury, a deal in January seems unlikely.
However, out of contract in just 18 months and with no signs yet of a renewal, perhaps the Manchester club will look to cash in on the midfielder should he fail to reach his usual heights from here on in.
