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The massive story of this summer season switch window has been the rise of the Saudi Professional League as a sizzling vacation spot seeking to entice the largest stars in European soccer, and with the Saudis, bankrolled by the $620 billion Public Funding Fund (PIF), taking the market by storm, we carry you the most recent updates on who’s making the transfer to the dominion, who’s saying “thanks, however no thanks” and who continues to be mulling it over.
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June 6 — Karim Benzema, FW: Actual Madrid to Al Ittihad (Free switch)
The present Ballon d’Or holder obtained Saudi Arabia’s summer season enterprise underway in type, finishing a free switch from 14-time European champions Actual Madrid to the two-time Asian champions Al Ittihad. The 35-year-old France worldwide signed a two-year contract value €400million ($436m).
June 21 — N’Golo Kante, MF: Chelsea to Al Ittihad (Free switch)
A protracted switch saga lastly got here to an finish with French midfielder Kante calling an finish to his seven-year keep at Stamford Bridge to hitch his worldwide teammate Benzema at Al Ittihad on a free switch. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is about to earn €86m ($109.78m) per 12 months all through his four-year take care of the Jeddah-based membership.
June 24 — Ruben Neves, MF: Wolverhampton Wanderers to Al Hilal (€55m, $60m)
Premier League facet Wolverhampton Wanderers acquired a club-record payment for the switch of their captain, Neves, to Al Hilal on a three-year deal. The Portugal worldwide midfielder joined Asia’s most profitable membership facet.
June 25 — Kalidou Koulibaly, DF: Chelsea to Al Hilal (£17m, $21.61m)
Saudi Arabia’s raid on Stamford Bridge continued because the PIF goal extra gamers. Chelsea reduce their losses on Senegal defender Koulibaly who joined Al Hilal on a three-year deal, having paid €40m to carry the 32-year-old from Napoli final summer season.
June 28 — Edouard Mendy, GK: Chelsea to Al Ahli (£16m, $21m)
The Senegal goalkeeper has accomplished a switch from West London to Jeddah on a three-year deal. The 31-year-old gained the Champions League and the UEFA Males’s Greatest Goalkeeper Award in 2021 with Chelsea, and he’ll now line up on the alternative facet of the Jeddah derby to his former teammate Kante, becoming a member of Al Ahli.
July 3 — Steven Gerrard, coach, to Al Ettifaq
Gerrard is the brand new supervisor of Al Ettifaq after resuming talks with the membership over a return to administration, sources advised ESPN’s Mark Ogden, and has agreed to take over the Dammam-based outfit. The previous Liverpool captain, who was fired by Aston Villa in November 2022 after lower than 12 months at Villa Park, rejected an preliminary provide to maneuver to Al Ettifaq final month. However after additional discussions with the membership hierarchy, the 43-year-old has come to an settlement.
July 3 — Marcelo Brozovic, MF: Inter Milan to Al Nassr (€18m, $20m)
The 30-year-old Croatia worldwide has accomplished the transfer from Inter Milan to Al Nassr, the place he’ll workforce up with Ronaldo. Brozovic had curiosity from Barcelona, however he opted for Riyadh as an alternative, the place he has reportedly signed a three-year take care of a wage of €25m (almost $30m) per season.
July 3 — Jota, FW: Celtic to Al Ittihad (£25m, $31.7m)
The 24-year-old winger joins Benzema and Kante because the Jeddah membership’s third signing this summer season after he agreed to a three-year contract with the Saudi champions. Jota signed on mortgage for Celtic from Benfica in September 2021 earlier than making the switch everlasting in July 2022. Over his two years in Glasgow, the Portuguese contributed 28 targets and 26 assists.
July 4 — Roberto Firmino, FW: Liverpool to Al Ahli (Free switch)
The ahead, 31, agreed a three-year take care of the Saudi workforce and joins former Chelsea goalkeeper Mendy on the Jeddah-based membership. Firmino made the transfer as a free agent after his contract at Liverpool expired on the finish of final season.
July 12 — Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, MF: Lazio to Al Hilal (€40m, $44m)
The 28-year-old Serbian had curiosity from Arsenal and Liverpool not too long ago, however has accomplished his switch to Al Hilal, the place he’ll be part of Neves and Koulibaly. Milinkovic-Savic spent the final eight years in Serie A at Lazio, and can transfer to Riyadh on a €20m-per-year ($22m) wage till 2026.
July 18 — Seko Fofana, MF: Lens to Al Nassr (€25m, $28m)
The 28-year-old Ivory Coast worldwide has accomplished a transfer to hitch Ronaldo and Brozovic at Al Nassr on a three-year deal. Lens additionally launched an announcement which confirmed that Fofana will go away the Ligue 1 membership as a shareholder. Fofana helped Lens to a second-place end final season, just one level behind league winners Paris Saint-Germain.
July 23 — Alex Telles, DF: Manchester United to Al Nassr (€4m, $4.4m)
The 30-year-old defender has signed for Al Nassr on a three-year deal. Telles was on mortgage at Sevilla final season, the place he helped knock out Man United en path to lifting the Europa League title. The Brazilian will reunite with former United teammate Ronaldo.
July 26 — Malcom, FW: Zenit St Petersburg to Al Hilal (€60m, $66m)
The 26-year-old Brazilian has signed a four-year deal to hitch to Al Hilal, the place he’ll play alongside Koulibaly, Neves and Milinkovic-Savic. Malcom moved to Zenit in 2019 from Barcelona, and lifted the Russian Premier League title final season as the highest scorer (23) within the league.
July 27 — Jordan Henderson, MF: Liverpool to Al Ettifaq (£12m, $15.4m)
The Liverpool captain accomplished his three-year transfer to the Saudi outfit, the place he’ll be part of former Reds teammate Gerrard. The 33-year-old England worldwide joined Liverpool in 2011, and gained the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and League Cup with them.
July 27 — Moussa Dembele, FW: Lyon to Al Ettifaq (Free switch)
The French striker joins Gerrard and Henderson at Al Ettifaq on a four-year deal after the expiry of his contract with Lyon, who he joined in 2018. The previous Celtic ahead made 28 appearances final season for Lyon and scored three targets.
July 27 — Jack Hendry, DF: Membership Brugge to Al Ettifaq (£6.5m, $8.3m)
The 28-year-old Scotland worldwide is without doubt one of the a number of signings confirmed in a brief span of time by Al Ettifaq. After becoming a member of Brugges in 2021, Hendry made 32 appearances for them within the Belgian Professional League and hung out on mortgage at Cremonese in Serie A final season.
July 28 — Riyad Mahrez, FW: Manchester Metropolis to Al Ahli (€35m, $39m)
The 2 golf equipment have come to settlement for the switch of the Algerian worldwide on a three-year contract (with an possibility to increase). The 32-year-old helped Metropolis to the treble final season after spending 5 years on the membership, over which era he gained 4 Premier League titles.
July 30 — Allan Saint-Maximin, FW: Newcastle United to Al Ahli (undisclosed payment)
The 26-year-old Frenchman has made his transfer to Al Ahli official after Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe confirmed that Saint-Maximin “is in discussions concerning a transfer to a different membership.” Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund (PIF), who personal Newcastle, even have a 75% stake in 4 golf equipment within the nation’s league, together with Al Ahli. Howe added that to ensure that the Magpies to make extra transfers sooner or later, they wanted to maneuver the participant out as a result of Monetary Honest Play laws.
July 31 — Fabinho, MF: Liverpool to Al Ittihad (£40m, $51.33m)
Brazil midfielder Fabinho has signed for present Saudi Professional League champions Al Ittihad on a three-year deal. Fabinho, 29, will be part of Benzema and Kante in Saudi after making 219 appearances for Liverpool since becoming a member of the Reds in 2018.
Aug. 1 — Sadio Mane, FW: Bayern Munich to Al Nassr (£24m, $30m)
After a 12 months enjoying for the Bundesliga champions, Mane will workforce up with Ronaldo, Brozovic, Fofana and Telles at Al Nassr on a four-year deal. The 31-year-old Senegal worldwide had an underwhelming season at Bayern, scoring 12 targets in 38 appearances and falling out of favor with the workforce for punching teammate Leroy Sane after a Champions League defeat to Manchester Metropolis in April.
Aug. 9 — Franck Kessie, DF: Barcelona to Al Ahli (€12m, $13m)
The Barcelona defender leaves the Camp Nou after one season on the membership, the place he made 43 appearances and gained LaLiga. The 26-year-old Ivory Coast worldwide joined Barca on a free switch final summer season from AC Milan, and scored the successful aim in El Clasico in March towards Actual Madrid.
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Neymar given big welcome by Al Hilal followers
Neymar was given a feverous reception when launched to Al Hilal followers at their 70,000-capacity stadium.
Aug. 15 Neymar, FW: PSG to Al Hilal (€90m, $98.6m)
The 31-year-old famous person and Brazil’s joint all-time high scorer leaves the Parc des Princes on a switch payment of €90 million ($98.6m). A return to Barcelona by no means absolutely materialized, and Neymar will now head to Riyadh. Neymar may have a two-year contract and is reportedly being paid an annual wage of round $100 million. That might be round half of the reported wage Cristiano Ronaldo is being paid by Al Nassr.
Aug. 17 — Yassine Bounou, GK: Sevilla to Al Hilal (€21m, $22.8m)
The 32-year-old Morocco worldwide will be part of Al Hilal, essentially the most profitable membership in Saudi Arabia and Asia, on a three-year deal. Bounou reached the semifinals of the World Cup with Morocco in 2022, and helped Sevilla raise two Europa League titles.
Aug. 19 — Aleksandar Mitrovic, FW: Fulham to Al Hilal (£46m, $58.6m)
Fulham initially rejected a bid from Al Hilal of €30m ($33m) to signal their high scorer, however Mitrovic was eager on the transfer and can make the shift to Saudi Arabia on a three-year deal. The 28-year-old Serbian worldwide made 205 appearances for the workforce and scored 14 Premier League targets final season.
Aug. 23 — Otavio, MF: Porto to Al Nassr (€60m, $65m)
Otavio will be part of his compatriot Ronaldo at Al Nassr on a three-year deal. Regardless of curiosity from Inter, Juventus, Newcastle and Man United, the 28-year-old attacking midfielder selected the Saudi Professional League. Otavio joined Porto in 2016, scoring 31 targets and making 75 assists in 283 appearances.
Aug. 24 — Aymeric Laporte, DF: Man Metropolis to Al Nassr (€27.5m, $30m)
A €65m signing from Athletic Membership again in 2018, Laporte had slipped down the pecking order at Metropolis after struggling with harm over current seasons. Al Nassr have picked up a high quality participant, who continues to be solely 29, for an inexpensive payment.
Aug. 26 — Gabri Veiga, FW: Celta Vigo to Al Ahli (€40m, $43m)
A youth product of Celta and one in every of LaLiga’s high younger skills, the 21-year-old had been near signing for Napoli. The Italian membership had reportedly reached a verbal settlement over a €36m switch however Al Ahli paid his €40m launch clause and supplied him 5 occasions more cash in wages. He’s the primary younger star to select the Saudi league over Europe.
Sep. 3 — Gini Wijnaldum, MF: PSG to Al Ettifaq (€9m, $9.7m)
Former Liverpool midfielder Wijnaldum will be part of his ex-teammate Steven Gerrard at Saudi membership Al Ettifaq, with PSG touchdown a €9m payment. The Netherlands worldwide noticed his enjoying time lower in Paris and has opted for a brand new problem, the place he’ll play alongside Jordan Henderson once more.
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The quantity it could take for Steve Nicol to maneuver Mohamed Salah
Stevie Nicol provides the costs he would settle for if he have been working Liverpool for star Mohamed Salah.
Talks ongoing
Yannick Carrasco, FW: Atletico Madrid to Al Shabab
Atletico Madrid winger Carrasco is about to maneuver to Saudi facet Al Shabab for €15m and is reportedly set to have a medical on Sept. 1. The Belgium worldwide had a clause in his contract for a doable transfer to Barcelona, however the membership haven’t taken it up.
Paul Pogba, MF: Juventus to Al Ahli
After an injury-hit season and that includes solely 10 occasions for Juve, the 30-year-old France worldwide has reportedly been supplied a three-year contract value €100m ($111m) plus bonuses by the Jeddah-based membership. Nevertheless, there are questions as as to if the midfielder needs to depart the Serie A facet as talks between the 2 events proceed.
Rejected offers
Mohamed Salah, MF: Liverpool to Al Ittihad
Liverpool rejected a £150m bid for Mohamed Salah from Saudi Arabian membership Al Ittihad, sources have advised ESPN’s Mark Ogden. Salah, 31, has been the topic of intense hypothesis linking him with a transfer to the Saudi champions in current weeks, regardless of the insistence of Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp that the participant wouldn’t be allowed to depart Anfield. Al Ittihad lastly made their transfer on Sept. 1, providing an preliminary £100m for Salah with extra incentives making it value an eventual £150m to Liverpool. However sources have advised ESPN that the provide for Salah has been rejected and that the matter is closed.
Hakim Ziyech, MF: Chelsea to Al Nassr
After a stellar World Cup marketing campaign in Qatar wherein he led Morocco to the primary semifinal for an African nation, Ziyech was set with a transfer from Chelsea to the Center East, this time to workforce up with Ronaldo. Nevertheless, considerations have been raised over his knee and the deal fell via. Ziyech as an alternative moved to Galatasary on a season-long mortgage with an obligation to purchase.
Bernardo Silva, MF: Manchester Metropolis to Al Hilal
Following the transfer of his worldwide teammate Neves to Al Hilal, Metropolis ace Silva was topic of a mega provide from the Saudi membership. Additionally linked with Barcelona and PSG, Silva as an alternative signed a one-year extension which is able to hold him on the Etihad Stadium till 2026.
Saul, MF: Atletico Madrid to Al Nassr
Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul is contemplating a transfer to Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr. Nevertheless, Diego Simeone’s facet will demand a major payment with the Spain worldwide nonetheless underneath contract till 2026.
Kylian Mbappe, FW: PSG to Al Hilal
The Saudi facet made a report €300 million ($332m) bid to signal the Frenchman, however sources have advised ESPN that Mbappe just isn’t . The 2018 World Cup winner is at present in a contract standoff with the Parisian membership, and can look to depart on the finish of the 2023-24 season as a free agent. PSG reduce Mbappe from their preseason tour of Japan, with the membership seeking to discover a suggestion for him except he will be satisfied to signal a brand new contract.
Lionel Messi, FW: PSG to Al Hilal
With Ronaldo already plying his commerce at Al Nassr since January, Saudi Arabia’s hopes of touchdown his archrival Messi and recreating their rivalry within the Riyadh derby acquired a blow when the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner turned down a report provide of €400m ($436m) per 12 months from Al Hilal, opting as an alternative to hitch MLS facet Inter Miami.
Romelu Lukaku, FW: Chelsea to Al Hilal
Following the top of his mortgage spell at Inter, Lukaku acquired a suggestion from Saudi Arabia however has rejected the method, as an alternative pushing for a everlasting transfer to the Italian membership the place he performed 25 occasions final season and scored 10 targets.
Jose Mourinho, coach: AS Roma to Al Ahli
Mourinho acquired a suggestion from Saudi facet Al Ahli, and reportedly met with the membership’s president, however the Portuguese coach will stay with Roma for one more season after main them to the Europa League last.
Son Heung-Min, FW: Tottenham Hotspur to Al Ittihad
South Korea captain Son introduced his intention to remain at Spurs after he was reported to be the topic of a €30m ($32.7m) per season bid from Saudi Arabian champions Al Ittihad. The 30-year-old stated, “I’ve many issues to do within the Premier League. Cash does not matter to me now, and the satisfaction of enjoying soccer, to play in my favorite league is vital. I wish to play extra for Tottenham within the Premier League. I am going to put together nicely after I’m again to Spurs.”
Luka Modric, MF: Actual Madrid to Al Hilal
The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner rejected a three-year, £170m ($215m) deal to play in Saudi Arabia and signed a brand new one-year deal at Actual Madrid. Modric is without doubt one of the world’s best midfielders, and regardless of being tempted by the SPL, turns into one other huge participant to show down a transfer to the Gulf.
Jamie Vardy, FW: Leicester Metropolis to Al Khaleej
Al Khaleej, situated within the metropolis of Saihat, are one of many golf equipment who have been after former Premier League Golden Boot-winner Vardy. In response to The Guardian, the 36-year-old — who has 12 months left on his Leicester contract — just isn’t considering a transfer to the Center East.
Pedro, FW: Flamengo to Al Hilal
Flamengo striker Pedro has turned down a profitable provide from Saudi Professional League facet Al Hilal, Globoesporte reviews. Pedro, 26, performed for Brazil on the 2022 World Cup after a formidable 12 months with Flamengo the place he scored 29 targets, together with 12 within the Copa Libertadores. Al Hilal supplied Pedro six time the quantity he at present earns at Flamengo however the sporting challenge has not satisfied the participant. Al Hilal, who appointed former Flamengo coach Jorge Jesus earlier this week, are usually not giving up on signing Pedro.
Wilfried Zaha, FW: Crystal Palace to Al Nassr
The 30-year-old winger’s contract at Palace was set to run out on the finish of June, and though Al Nassr made a (£30m) $38m per 12 months provide, Zaha rejected the transfer and signed for Turkish membership Galatasaray.
Marco Silva, coach: Fulham to Al Ahli
Fulham boss confirmed he acquired a suggestion from Al Ahli, however didn’t clarify whether or not he would take the deal or not. The Saudi facet supplied £40 million ($51.4m) over two seasons, nevertheless, the 46-year-old reportedly turned down the provide with one 12 months remaining on his contract at Craven Cottage.
