Fabrizio Romano says the Saudi Pro League is developing beyond its financial strength, with Al-Nassr’s title-winning project providing evidence that intelligent planning and recruitment strategy are becoming just as important as spending power.
The global transfer market expert was speaking on the “Al Manssa” programme on Thamanya channels, where he assessed the rapid growth of the Saudi football market. Romano said the progress could be measured not only by the size of transfer fees being paid, but also by the increasingly deliberate way clubs are building their squads.
“The market in the Saudi Pro League is really growing a lot, not only in terms of money but also in terms of strategy,” Romano said.
He highlighted Al-Nassr as a clear example of that change, referring to the club’s work with people including Semedo and Simao Coutinho before it went on to become league champions.
“If you see, for example, Al-Nassr with people like Semedo or Simao Coutinho and their team, and now being champions, it was a very smart strategy,” he said.
Romano argued that successful squad construction should begin with identifying the right profile of player rather than simply pursuing the biggest available name. He said experienced leaders and high-quality free agents could form the basis of an effective long-term plan.
“I always say: go for the free player, the big leader. This kind of player will build the perfect strategy,” he said.
He concluded by underlining his view that the Saudi Pro League’s development cannot be explained by financial investment alone.
“So I think sometimes it is not only about money, but it is also about being as smart as possible,” Romano said.
The summer 2026 transfer window has seen significant activity across the Saudi Pro League, with clubs strengthening their squads ahead of the new campaign. The competition is expected to attract considerable attention as supporters await the start of the season and anticipate a closely fought race for the title and Asian places.
Saudi clubs continue to provide an appealing destination for internationally recognised players, while their recruitment has featured a mixture of major fees, promising talent and experienced additions.
Al-Hilal signed Crysencio Summerville from West Ham for €64.5m and Mohamed Marzouki from Al-Taawoun for €7.6m. The club also allowed Marcos Leonardo to leave for Ajax in a deal worth €19.9m.
Al-Nassr recruited Samu Costa from Mallorca for €22m. Al-Ittihad added Giancarlo Simic from Anderlecht for €15m and Dion Lopy from Almeria for €13m.
Al-Ahli’s leading arrivals included Francisco Trincao from Sporting CP for €39m and Eduard Spertsyan from Krasnodar for €21.9m. The club also signed Abdullah Radif from Al-Hilal on a free transfer.
Al-Qadsiah completed one of the window’s most notable deals by bringing in Tijjani Reijnders from Manchester City for €61m.
Other clubs, including Al-Shabab and Neom, have also conducted varied recruitment drives involving both Saudi and overseas players. Taken together, those moves reflect the continued investment by Saudi clubs as they seek to improve their competitiveness domestically and across Asian football.
