Saudi Pro League Starts with Quiet Transfer Market

Saudi Pro League kicks off its 2024-25 season on August 22 and while last year saw a flurry of high-profile signings like Neymar, Karim Benzema and Riyad Mahrez, this summer has been relatively subdued. Despite significant investments exceeding £700 million in the past year, the transfer market has seen a general slowdown, influenced by economic conditions and late national team tournaments.

Professor Simon Chadwick from Skema Business School attributes this quieter period to the challenging economic climate and clubs navigating financial regulations. Although there have been rumors involving stars like Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr., no major deals have materialized yet. Brentford’s Ivan Toney for instance saw a £35 million bid from Al-Ahli rejected.

Despite this, the league remains competitive and star-studded. Al-Hilal, reigning champions, enjoyed a dominant season winning their 19th league title and extending their world record for consecutive wins. Al-Nassr, despite a prolific season and scoring 100 goals, ended trophyless and faces pressure on coach Luis Castro after a poor pre-season.

Al-Ittihad, last season’s champions, finished fifth despite high-profile signings like N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema. The club has now brought in Laurent Blanc as manager and Moussa Diaby from Aston Villa, aiming to reclaim their top spot. Al-Ahli also boasts an impressive roster including Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino and is looking to build on their third-place finish.

The league’s average attendance remains modest, with the big four clubs drawing the most support. Teams like Al-Qadsiah, now backed by Aramco and featuring new signings like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nacho are striving to challenge the dominance of the established giants.

Overall, the Saudi Pro League aims to build on its recent success, attract more fans, and improve the overall quality of play.