Top 15 most expensive signings in Saudi Pro League history

Even Paris Saint-Germain parted ways with €222m signing from 2017 when Saudi came calling.

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 15 most expensive signings in the Saudi Pro League history:

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

Another talent that Al-Ahli brought home was Roger Ibañez. The Jeddah-based club convinced AS Roma to let the Brazilian leave for a €28.5 million fee. Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, Alain Saint-Maximin, and Franck Kessie had already claimed their dressing room seats before him.

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

The Portuguese winger closed his Celtic chapter in just a season when Karim Benzema’s Al-Ittihad came calling. Even two big paycheck-receiving Frenchmen, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante, were left behind in this deal, as they were brought on a free transfer. After scoring 15 goals and providing 12 assists, the 24-year-old winger moved 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.

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

The 31-year-old left winger has already experienced success with Al-Nassr. 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 aiding in that department brilliantly. Bayern accepted a €30 million fee for Mané just after a year of his service.

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

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 knew how good Riyad Mahrez was. After the Algerian wizard made up his mind to try new things, Man City were happy to receive this much money for him.

11. 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 Biancocelesti, 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.

10. 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 by their standards, which soon followed a drastic midfield transition in the summer. The 29-year-old Brazilian was allowed to depart for €46.7 million in transfer fees, which Al-Ittihad agreed to with Liverpool.

9. Darwin Nunez – €53m (Liverpool to Al Hilal)

One of the known Premier League stars went to the Saudi Pro League during the 2025-26 season. Al Hilal signed Darwin Nunez from Liverpool for a price tag of €53 million. He played limited games for the Saudi giants and recent reports suggest that Nunez’s has terminated his contract with Al Hilal on a mutual consent.

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

Wolves reportedly accepted $55 million in transfer fees from Al-Hilal. He was a surprising signing, as at 26, he could have easily made the starting XI of most Champions League clubs across Europe.

The Portuguese midfielder pockets 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.

7. Moussa Diaby – €57m (Aston Villa to Al Ittihad)

Moussa Diaby’s transfer is the most money ever spent by Al Ittihad on a player. The Tigers sealed a €57 million deal with Aston Villa during the 2024-25 season. Diaby was brought to the Saudi Pro League after his performances were quite noticeable in the English top division.

6. Otavio – €60m (Porto to Al Nassr)

The Portuguese midfielder went to the Saudi Pro League during the 2023-24 campaign. Al Nassr triggered the release clause of €60 million for Otavio set by the Portuguese club FC Porto. In September of 2025, Otavio signed for another Saudi side, Al Qadsiah.

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

The former Zenit St. Petersburg winger was just 26 during the move. 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, plays for the Saudi Pro League’s Al-Hilal. Al-Hilal have won the Asian Champions League four times.

4. Mateo Retegui – €65m (Atalanta to Al Qadsiah)

Mateo Retegui became the most expensive Italian player after his €65m move to Al Qadsiah from Atalanta BC during the 2025-26 season. He signed a four-year deal which also included some add-ons. Retegui’s move came after his sensational performances in Serie A. Now Sandro Tonali is the most expensive Italian player of all time after his move to Tottenham Hotspur for €100m.

3. Crysencio Summerville – €70m (West Ham to Al Hilal)

The 24-year-old is now the third-most expensive signing of the Saudi first division. His signing was confirmed by Al Hilal from West Ham United after the FIFA World Cup 2026. Crysencio Summerville performed well for the Netherlands and his performances caught the eye of many top clubs from around the world. The initial fee was around €64 million and with the add-ons, it touched the €70m mark.

2. Jhon Duran – €77m (Aston Villa to Al-Nassr)

The fresh entrant on this list. Jhon Duran had an impressive time with Aston Villa in the Premier League. The Colombian striker will now play for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. The question is how he will line up given the team already has Sadio Mane, Cristiano Ronaldo and others in competition for the attacking spots.

1. Neymar – €100m (PSG to Al-Hilal)

Neymar has moved to Santos! The player was once bought for a world record €222 million fee back in 2017. The winger left after a six-year spell in the capital of France to join Al-Hilal.

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 decided to cash in and move on.

Moreover, his time in Saudi Arabia wasn’t much fulfilling either as injuries didn’t really allow him to express himself.

Last updated on 26 July 2026.

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