Why Should You Watch Saudi Pro League?

Why Should You Watch Saudi Pro League?

So… we all got used to the fact that the transfer window shuts at the end of August or at the beginning of September, but the year 2023 turned out to be anomalous in this regard. All thanks to clubs from Saudi Arabia, which have acquired a lot of stellar performers — the strongest teams of this country and concurrently the participants of the AFC Champions League got the transfer window closed only on September 7.

Hi there, folks! Today we have prepared for you a detailed guide about the newly-minted top football league. Let’s have a brief talk about all teams the local elite tier has to offer and determine our favourites of the season! But before we dive into the topic, write in the comments below, which transfer to the Saudi Pro League impressed you the most?

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Al Ittihad
Head coach – Nuno Espírito Santo (Portugal)
Current place – 3 (12 points)

Starting off with the league’s reigning champions and the first team to kick-off the last summer’s spending spree by announcing the transfer of Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema. Back then, Real Madrid legend was joined by his compatriot N’Golo Kante, as well as Brazil midfielder Fabinho, who spent five impressive years in Liverpool. In addition to star names, Al Ittihad had completed the extremely strange signing of Portuguese winger Jota, who scored 11 goals and delivered 10 assists for Celtic last season in the Scottish Pro Football League. However, less than a month after, the media began to report that the club wanted to get rid of Jota due to his underperformance. However, he still remains in the roster and mostly comes on as a substitute, while it was not possible to recruit Mohamed Salah in his place. Besides, on the last day of the transfer window, the ‘Tigers’ bought centre-back Luiz Felipe from Real Betis. Overall, Al Ittihad spent almost 120 million euros on these transfers!

Al Hilal
Head coach – Jorge Jesus (Portugal)
Current place – 1 (13 points)

We move on to the team that topped the league table after 5 Matchdays, and the team that faced Real Madrid in the Club World Cup final in winter. Al Hilal also boasts the most expensive squad according to Transfermarkt, estimated at 213.9 million euros. Al Hilal spent a total of €341.6 million on European star players this summer! This team literally managed to boost each of the squad position slots with a big name. Just look whom they brought in the roster: goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, midfielders Sergej Milinković-Savić and Ruben Neves, wingers Neymar Jr and Malcom, as well as centre-forward Aleksandar Mitrovic. Perhaps the most famous local footballer, Salem Al-Dawsari, also represents the ‘Blue Waves’. So far, they look more powerful than all the teams. Mitrovic, Malcom and Al-Dawsari have already slotted 4 goals each, not to mention the incredible comeback they made from 1:3 to 4:3 in the latest fixture against Al Ittihad. Neymar didn’t even have time to make his debut…

Al Nassr
Head coach – Luis Castro (Portugal)
Current place – 6 (9 points)

Who would’ve known that the club that invited Cristiano Ronaldo back in winter would actually open Pandora’s box? Even more stars joined Saudi clubs since then, and in particular Ronaldo was joined by such top players as Sadio Mane, Marcelo Brozovic, Alex Telles and Aymeric Laporte in the summer. Porto winger Otavio isn’t much of a star, though Al Nassr still forked out €60 million for his services. Besides, the former RC Lens leader Seko Fofana seems like a very cool reinforcement option. Let’s also not forget about the top-notch Anderson Talisca, who has been playing for Al Nassr since the summer of 2021. Al Nassr spent a total of 165 million euros in the summer, but opened the season with two consecutive defeats, followed by three victories. In any case, of course, you cannot write off a team which has many professional performers. The whole season is still ahead, you know…

Al Ahli
Head coach – Matthias Jaissle (Germany)
Current place – 4 (12 points)

These are the Saudi Pro League newcomers, who already got the largest number of European footballers in the past summer with 8 done deals in the bag. Among other things, unlike their rivals, Al Ahli invited the young and promising German Matthias Jaissle, who showed his potential well at RB Salzburg as a head coach. Al Ahli’s squad makes them a dark horse of the championship. Like at Al Hilal, each of the roles is taken by a high-profile player: Edouard Mendy is in the goal, Merih Demiral and Roger Ibanez in the defensive line, Franck Kessie will shine in the central midfield position, Gabri Veiga will be used as an attacking midfielder, Riyad Mahrez and Allan Saint-Maximin will make a good fit as wingers, and Roberto Firmino will top them all as a centre-forward.