Every Premier League and world star that joined the Saudi Pro League in 2023: Ronaldo, Neymar, Henderson…

Jordan Henderson, Neymar and Roberto Firmino have all moved to Saudi Arabia

Jordan Henderson, Neymar and Roberto Firmino have all moved to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia made waves in the transfer market and they have been able to attract some of the biggest stars in European football.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns Newcastle United, have taken control of the four largest teams in the Saudi Pro League – Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli – and are able to offer lucrative contracts to players.

But Al Ettifaq – who are managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard – and Al-Shabab FC have also been buying players from Europe’s top leagues.

We’ve taken a look at every Premier League player and big-name star who has moved to those clubs in 2023.

Al-Nassr

Al-Nassr kickstarted Saudi Arabia’s shopping spree in Europe by signing Cristiano Ronaldo in January 2023.

Ronaldo, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, was available on a free transfer following his acrimonious departure from Manchester United.

But he didn’t come cheap as the Portugal international signed a two-and-a-half-year contract worth a reported £175million a year.

Ronaldo has since scored 20 goals in 24 appearances for Al-Nassr and led them to their first-ever Arab Club Champions Cup title.

“For me, it was a great privilege to change the culture of a country in terms of football and to have great stars go to Saudi Arabia,” he recently told reporters.

“I was the pioneer, and I am proud of it. What I want most is to continue to always evolve, so that [the league] is top notch.”

Ronaldo has now been reunited with former Manchester United team-mate Alex Telles, who won the Europa League during a loan spell at Sevilla in 2022/23.

Al-Nassr also bought a defender from the blue half of Manchester, signing five-time Premier League winner Aymeric Laporte in a £23.5million deal.

They fought off competition from Barcelona to sign Marcelo Brozovic, who was part of the Inter side that lost 1-0 to Manchester City in last season’s Champions League final.

He’ll be partnered in midfield by former Lens captain Seko Fofana after Al-Nassr triggered the £21.5million release clause in his contract.

One of four former Liverpool players on this list, Sadio Mane had an underwhelming spell at Bayern Munich last season and has now moved on to Al Nassr.

The 31-year-old is set to pocket a staggering £34million-a-year (£650,000-a-week) and Bayern have reportedly recouped most of the £35million they paid Liverpool for Mane in 2022.

Otavio was Al-Nassr’s most expensive signing in 2023 as they triggered the £51.5million release clause in the winger’s Porto contract.

Al-Ahli

After winning the Saudi First Division League title last season and securing promotion back to the Saudi Pro League, Al-Ahli improved their squad in the summer of 2023.

They signed Edouard Mendy from Chelsea in a £16million deal, and he will receive a £9.4million annual salary in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Ahli bought two centre-backs from Serie A, signing Roger Ibanez from Roma in a £25.6million deal and he’ll be partnered by former Atalanta defender Merih Demiral.

They hijacked Napoli’s bid for midfielder Gabri Veiga and triggered the £34.3million release clause in his Celta Vigo contract.

l-Ahli also bolstered their attacking options and signed former Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino on a free transfer, tying him down to a three-year deal.

After helping Manchester City win the treble in 2022/23, Riyad Mahrez decided to leave Europe for the Middle East. He cost £30million and will now be pocketing a reported £45million per year over the next four seasons.

Al-Ahli are now able to pick a front three of former Premier League players as they bought Allan Saint-Maximin from Newcastle United in a £23million deal.

Al-Ittihad

Despite leading Al-Ittihad to the Saudi Pro League title in 2023, manager Nuno Espirito Santo refused to rest on his laurels.

They shocked the footballing world by signing Karim Benzema, who scored 354 goals in 648 appearances for Real Madrid and is the current Ballon d’Or holder.

He arrived on a free transfer and signed a lucrative three-year deal with the Saudi side, which is set to see him earn around £172million per season.

“I am excited to experience a new football league in a different country,” Benzema said. “I have been fortunate to achieve amazing things in my career and achieve everything I can in Spain and Europe.

“It now feels the time is right for a new challenge and project. I am looking forward to joining my new teammates and, together with them, help take this amazing club and the game in Saudi Arabia to new levels.”

Benzema was followed through the Al-Ittihad doors by fellow Frenchman N’Golo Kante, who was available on a free transfer after leaving Chelsea.

He was offered a contract extension by Chelsea but ultimately moved to the Middle East and signed a three-year deal worth a reported £86million a season.

Fabinho had some brilliant battles against Kante during his time at Liverpool but will now be playing alongside the 32-year-old.

The Saudi Pro League champions paid £40million for the midfielder and have reportedly quadrupled his £180,000-per-week salary.

Alongside those experienced stars, Al-Ittihad also wanted some younger players in their team and they signed Jota from Celtic in a £25million deal before buying Luiz Felipe from Real Betis on deadline day.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema

Al-Hilal SFC

The most decorated club in Saudi Arabia and Asia, Al-Hilal splashed the cash in the summer as they look to reclaim the league title.

They spent £17million on Kalidou Koulibaly, who endured a difficult debut season at Chelsea in 2021/22 but is now due to collect £26million a season until 2026.

Despite being heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, Ruben Neves couldn’t reject Al-Hilal’s offer of £300,000-a-week and the 26-year-old was signed for £47million.

“It was a good project, the club and the league presented a good project,” Neves said. “My agent spoke to a lot of people involved in the league and it was an easy decision to make.

“I wanted something new for my career, something else for my career. When this chance came I spoke with my family and everyone was really happy to come, so it was easy for me.

“The main factor was my family and the chance to give my family the life I have always dreamt of, that was the real reason for me. I have three kids and a lovely wife and I need to take care of them, that is a bigger trophy than my career.”

Neves will partner Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in the middle of the park after Al-Hilal paid Lazio £34million and gave him a three-year contract worth £17million per year.

While Kylian Mbappe rejected a move to Al-Hilal, they were able to sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain after offering him a contract worth £129.4million a year.

Jorge Jesus’ side also spent an initial £69million on the Brazil international, making him the most expensive player in the history of the Saudi Pro League.

Neymar was reunited with compatriot Malcom, who left Zenit St Petersburg and cost an initial £38.6million plus a further £12.8million in add-ons.

After signing those two wingers, Al-Hilal completed their new-look front three by signing striker Aleksandar Mitrovic from Fulham in a £46million deal.

At the other end of the pitch, Al-Hilal spent £17.9million on former Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who won two Europa League titles during his time in Spain.

Al Ettifaq

Having played alongside Jordan Henderson at Liverpool, Gerrard has brought the midfielder to Saudi Arabia.

The 33-year-old has now moved to Al Ettifaq in a deal worth £12million plus add-ons and will reportedly earn £700,000 a week in wages over the next three years.

Gerrard then went shopping in the blue half of Merseyside and signed Demarai Gray from Everton for a fee of around £10million.

After spending last season on loan at Roma, Georginio Wijnaldum left Paris Saint-Germain to reunite with Henderson at Al Ettifaq.

They also signed former Celtic and Atletico Madrid striker Moussa Dembele on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract at Lyon.

Al-Shabab FC

Al-Shabab FC are reportedly looking to hire John Terry as their new manager and they made two high-profile signings in the summer.

They broke their own transfer record to sign Habib Diallo after the 28-year-old striker scored 20 Ligue 1 goals for Strasbourg last season.

Al-Shabab FC also paid Atletico Madrid £12.8million for Yannick Carrasco, who has previously played for Dalian Professional in the Chinese Super League.

READ MORE: Ronaldo, Mane, Benzema: Inside the Saudi Pro League’s stunning £500m ascent

Cristiano Ronaldo Neymar Jordan Henderson

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