Top 10 most expensive signings in Saudi Pro League history

Paris Saint-Germain set to part ways with €222m signing from 2017

After Ronaldo was unveiled, Saudi Pro League viewership reached new heights, and social media and other things also started to gain traction. The Arabs seem to have acknowledged the image hosting a World Cup brings after witnessing Qatar 2022.

With a view to hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is leaving no stone unturned. The Public Investment Funds are continuing to make waves in world football. Firstly, the PIF consortium took over an ailing Newcastle United to give them a surge back to Champions League football within two years.

And probably understanding the game of football both inside and outside with The Magpies, they further went on to own 75% of all four premier clubs in the Saudi Pro League. One of them is Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, while the other three are Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli.

And quickly they have gone to give shivers to clubs in Europe who are now trying to hold on to their star players. Cristiano Ronaldo was the very first player in football history to get a paycheck of 200 million dollars a year. But still doesn't find a place on our list, due to his free transfer move.

We bring you the current 10 most expensive signings in the Saudi Pro League history:

10. Allan Saint-Maximin - €27.2m (Newcastle United to Al-Ahli)

After mesmerising St. James' Park with his quick feet and trickery, Allan Saint-Maximin moved to Al-Ahli on July 30. The move initially seemed a bit unconvincing since Newcastle fans loved the player and he is just 26. But as manager Eddie Howe had mentioned earlier, the club needed to sell a player this summer to comply with UEFA's Financial Fair Play Regulations. Newcastle had to do business. So a €27.2 million transfer fee was accepted by The Magpies for Saint-Maximin.

9. Roger Ibañez - €28.5m (AS Roma to Al-Ahli)

Another talent that Al-Ahli brought home is Roger Ibañez. The Jeddah-based club convinced AS Roma to let the Brazilian leave for a €28.5 million fee. Actually, he is the latest addition to the ranks after the official announcement on August 10. Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, Alain Saint-Maximin, and Franck Kessie have already claimed their dressing room seats before him.

8. Jota - €29.1m (Celtic to Al-Ittihad)

The Portuguese winger closed his Celtic chapter in just a season as Karim Benzema's Al-Ittihad came calling. Even two big paycheck-receiving Frenchmen, Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante, are left behind in this deal, as they were brought on a free transfer. After scoring 15 goals and providing 12 assists last season, the 24-year-old winger moves to the riches of Saudi Arabia. Jota, though, isn't the highest transfer signing in Al-Ittihad's history. The former Liverpool player has that spot.

7. Sadio Mané - €30m (Bayern Munich to Al-Nassr)

The 31-year-old left winger has already experienced success with Al-Nassr after joining on August 1. Sadio Mané got to celebrate lifting the 2023–24 United Arab Club Champions Cup trophy alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, who was signed in January. Ronaldo lacked exciting players around him. Now the former Bayern Munich and Liverpool man is set to aid in that department brilliantly. Bayern accepted a €30 million fee for Mané just after a year of his service.

6. Riyad Mahrez - €35m (Man City to Al-Ahli)

Last season, the winger was involved in winning a treble with Manchester City. Although he wasn't involved in the FA Cup and Champions League finals even for a minute, the world knows how good Pep Guardiola is. Now at 32 and getting his hands on the Champions League winner medal along with five Premier Leagues, the Algerian wizard made up his mind to try new things. Man City were happy to receive this much money for him.

5. Sergej Milinković-Savić - €40m (Lazio to Al-Hilal)

Since moving to Lazio in the summer of 2015, not a year has passed without Sergej Milinkovi-Savi being linked with a move. Although it never materialised until Al-Hilal came calling. After leaving the Belgium club KRC Genk in 2015 to play for Biancocelestis, the Serbian central midfielder appeared 341 times for Lazio between the summer of 2015 and 2023. In his time with the Italian outfit, Milinkovi-Savi managed to net 69 goals and 59 assists.

4. Fabinho - €46.7m (Liverpool to Al-Ittihad)

Fabinho made 49 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool in the 2022–23 season. The Reds had a bitter season as per their standards, which soon followed a drastic midfield transition this summer. The 29-year-old Brazilian was allowed to depart for €46.7 million in transfer fees, which Al-Ittihad agreed with Liverpool. By now, the defensive midfielder has featured 483 times for several clubs combined during his ongoing career, scoring 44 goals and making 33 assists.

3. Ruben Neves - €55m (Wolves to Al-Hilal)

Ruben Neves has already displayed his game in the Arab Champions Cup and is now set to play Saudi League football this year. Wolves reportedly accepted $55 million in transfer fees from Al-Hilal. He is a surprising signing, as at 26, he could have easily made the starting XI of most Champions League clubs across Europe.

However, the Portuguese midfielder is set to pocket almost €18.36 million per year, a significant rise from his €57,632 per week salary at Molineux. Neves left Wolves FC after making 253 appearances and scoring 30 goals.

2. Malcom - €60m (Zenit St. Petersburg to Al-Hilal)

The former Zenit St. Petersburg winger is still just 26 and has experienced sharing the dressing room with players at FC Barcelona. Although it was a bitter experience in the end, just after a year of joining the Catalan Giants, Malcom decided to get more playing time than Zenit offered.

Now the Brazilian, instead of trying to break into a bigger European team, has decided to move to the Saudi Pro League's Al-Hilal. Al-Hilal have won the Asian Champions League four times.

1. Neymar - €100m (PSG to Al-Hilal)

Neymar is here! The French club quickly gave the green light to Al-Hilal's proposal of a whopping €100 million for the 31-year-old. As per reports, Paris Saint-Germain no longer intends to keep hold of the Brazilian winger, who was once bought for a world record €222 million fee back in 2017. The winger leaves after a six-year spell in the capital of France.

Initially, Neymar was brought to the Paris-based club with the ambition of lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy. But even with the trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe, that dream didn't come to fruition. So, the club has now decided to cash in and move on. Plus, it will help keep their accounts in check with the Financial Fair Play regulations.

Last updated on 15 August, 2023.