The Saudi Pro League is the new destination for all footballers in 2023. The Saudi Pro League has been making significant strides in the international player market, attracting attention and sparking discussions on various topics. Many of the best footballers move to Saudi so here is the list of top footballers to have moved to Saudi Arabia.
Every football fan has many questions. Which players have signed for the Saudi Pro League? Is it for money or something else? Why have top players left European clubs? We have all the answers and a list of the top footballers to have moved to Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Pro League announces new strategy, young talent, and securing international talent in front of the country. Money has played a pivotal role, enabling the league to secure high-profile signings, including renowned players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema. Marcos Leonardo, Ivan Toney, Mohamed Simakan, Moussa Diaby, Hakim Ziyech, Paul Pogba, Bernardo Silva, and Saul Niguez are some of the players who have been rumoured to join clubs in the Saudi Pro League.
PSG soccer star Neymar to join Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi Pro League but different club, Al-Hilal. Here’s a list of all the superstars that have followed the Portuguese footballers to Saudi Arabia this summer:
List of top footballers to have moved to Saudi Arabia
Table of Contents
Several top footballers have made the move to Saudi Arabia in recent years. The list includes global stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson, Riyad Mahrez, Fabinho, Sadio Mané, and Neymar.
List of Top Footballers Who Have Moved to Saudi Arabia
| Cristiano Ronaldo Karim Benzema N’Golo Kanté Edouard Mendy Moussa Diaby | Sadio Mané Neymar Rúben Neves Kalidou Koulibaly Marcos Leonardo |
| Roberto Firmino Jordan Henderson Riyad Mahrez Fabinho | Sergej Milinković-Savić Franck Kessié Fabinho |
Cristiano Ronaldo | Al-Nassr
Ronaldo’s shock move to the Saudi Arabian club was a big game-changer for the club football world. He joined Al-Nassr from Manchester United on a record contract. One of the greatest players of all time Ronaldo plays as a forward for the club Al Nassr. Ronaldo received the highest football salary in history, worth €200 million per year (salary of €90 million + signing-on bonus in the region of €100 million).
Deal Price: $190 Million / Per Yr
Karim Benzema | Al-Ittihad
One of the best strikers of all time, Karim Benzema, joined the club Al-Ittihad and announced the signing on a free transfer. He was a part of Real Madrid from 2009 to 2023, who were integral to four Champions League wins from 2014 to 2018.
Deal Price: Move Between €24.8M and €41.3M and a free transfer Fee
Neymar Jr. | Al Hilal
Neymar set for Saudi move after Al Hilal agrees near-$100M transfer fee with PSG. The Brazilian star has an annual salary of about $100 million and a contract for the next 2 yr.
Deal Price: €100 million (£86.4 million)
N’Golo Kante | Al-Ittihad
Kante is considered one of the best midfielders of his generation. Kante agreed to sign club Al-Ittihad on 1 July 2023, upon the expiration of his Chelsea contract after 7 years or 190 games. N’Golo Kante has agreed on a free transfer to join Al-Ittihad, on a contract believed to be worth around £86m a season.
Deal Price: Free
Marcos Leonardo | Al Hilal
Marcos Leonardo is a professional footballer from Brazil who plays as a Striker (ST) for Al Hilal. He joined on September, 2024 with the cost of £41 ($33.7m).
Deal Price: £41 ($33.7m)
Roberto Firmino | Al Ahli
One of his best-known goal celebrations players Firmino joined the club Al Ahli, signing a contract until 2026. He has done 1st competitive game hat-trick against Al-Hazem in the first match for the club. Firmino concluded his playing career for Liverpool as the highest-scoring Brazilian player with a total of 82 goals.
Deal Price: Free
Riyad Mahrez | Al-Ahli
Al-Ahli and the captain of the Algerian national team joined the club for a transfer fee of £30 million, with Mahrez signing a contract to 2027. Mahrez signed for Manchester City in 2018, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup in his first season, and transferred the club to Al-Ahli in 2023.
Deal Price: £30 million
Ivan Toney | Al Ahli
The English forward join Al-Ahli Saudi FC on August, 2024. Ivan Toney back in the England Soccer Team squad for the first time since Euro 2024 after 29 goals for Al-Ahli this season.
Deal Price: £40 million
Sadio Mane | Al Nassr
Widely regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time, Senegalese forward Sadio Mané joined Al Nassr on 1 August 2023, making the move from Bayern Munich. If he fulfils the contract through 2027, he stands to earn around £136 million in total.
Deal Price: £34 million (€40 million)
Ruben Neves | Al-Hilal
Portuguese defensive midfielder Rúben Neves joined Al-Hilal in a record-breaking transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the deal reportedly worth £47 million — the highest sale in the club’s history.
Deal Price: £47 million
Kalidou Koulibaly | Al-Hilal
Kalidou Koulibaly signed a four-year contract with Premier League club Chelsea for a fee of £33 million. After one season, he completed a move to Al-Hilal for a reported fee of around £20 million.
Deal Price: £20 million
Sergej Milinkovic Savic | Al Hilal
Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić made the move to Al Hilal from Lazio for a reported fee of $44 million. During his time at Lazio, he made over 300 appearances and won the Coppa Italia once, along with two Supercoppa Italiana titles. In July 2023, he joined Al Hilal on a three-year deal as part of the Saudi Pro League’s push to attract top European talent.
Deal Price: £40 million
Jordan Henderson | Al-Ettifaq
Jordan Henderson completed his move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, bringing an end to his 12-year spell at Liverpool.
Deal Price: £12 million
Moussa Diaby | Al Ittihad
In July, 2024, Moussa Diaby was transferred to Aston Villa for £50m ($61.5m) excluding bonuses and a resale percentage for Al Ittihad
Deal Price: £50m ($61.5m)
Allan Saint-Maximin | Al Ahli
French footballer who plays as a winger for the club Al Ahli. He played 4 yr. (2019-2023) for Newcastle United on a six-year contract.
Deal Price: £12.5 million
Franck Kessie | Al Ahli
Franck Kessié joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli in a €12.5 million deal. Before his departure, he was the player who scored Barcelona’s 3,000th goal at the Spotify Camp Nou in La Liga.
Deal Price: £12.5 million
Fabinho | Al-Ittihad
Brazilian professional footballer Fabinho, widely regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, officially joined Al-Ittihad on a three-year deal running until 2026. His transfer was part of a series of high-profile moves from Liverpool to the Saudi Pro League. Fabinho is among the top footballers who have made the switch to Saudi Arabia, highlighting the league’s growing appeal and ambition to attract world-class talent.
Deal Price: £40 million
Seko Fofana | Al Nassr
Fofana joined Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr on a three-year deal but he signed a contract extension with the Lens club until 2025.
Deal Price: £25 million
Edouard Mendy | Al Ahli
Édouard Mendy is a professional footballer from Senegal who plays as a Goalkeeper (GK) for Al Ahli.
Deal Price: $21 million
Marcelo Brozovic | Al-Nassr
Croatia’s defensive midfielder moves from Manchester United to join Al-Nassr.
Deal Price: €18m
