Saudi Football's Transfer Market Surge: Vision, Controversy and Global Impact

Saudi clubs have stormed into the football transfer market. They've lured top talent, like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr., Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, etc. with staggering sums, according to sources like Fabrizio Romano, ESPN, Bleacher Report, etc., creating shockwaves in the football world. They have challenged the European dominance in club football. So how are they affording these world class players and why are they doing it?

Introduction

The transfer window has now ended, and without a doubt, the Saudi Arabian teams are the winners. Signing Cristiano Ronaldo in January, for 2 years, with him earning over $200 million was a clear statement, and Saudi Arabia has a determined vision. Saudi Arabia was one of the candidates to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup along with Egypt and Greece, others including Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, and Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Ukraine, but currently, an AFC member cannot host the 2030 edition, as Qatar hosted the 2022 edition. So, they are looking to host the 2034 World Cup instead. The country is looking to extend their popularity among the football world, and having these players in their league marks their first steps.

How can Saudi Arabia afford the high amounts of wages?

Paying huge amounts of transfer fees and wages to the players is a massive problem for many clubs and countries, however, Saudi Arabian teams can afford it due to reasons stated below:

The economy of Saudi Arabia is the largest in the Middle East and the eighteenth largest in the world. Its GDP is approximately $1.08 trillion as of 2023. Saudi Arabia reportedly has the third most valuable natural resource reserves in the world, mostly petroleum and natural gas.

Public Investment Fund (PIF), a privatization project initiative for sports, recently bought 75% stakes in four of the SPL’s clubs, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ahli. The PIF already owns 80% of Premier League club Newcastle United and manages more than $600 billion of the oil-rich kingdom’s assets.

Notably, Saudi clubs, unlike their counterparts in Europe, are not bound by financial fair play rules which restrict a club's spending power. This gives them the ability to hand out massive contracts without much regulatory concern.

The Saudi Arabian vision

Saudi Arabia look to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and the preparation for it has started in full fledge. Lionel Messi is a brand ambassador for Visit Saudi, and has been promoting it since May 2022 on social media, advertisements in general, etc, about it's nature, culture and tourism. He almost joined Al-Hilal this summer for a reported salary of $400 million per year, but chose to join MLS-side Inter Miami instead. This year’s FIFA Club World Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia in December as well. The kingdom’s first high-profile international soccer tournament will be a key test. Obviously, the transfers and rumors of players joining, play a huge part of it. All of these are a part of Vision 2030, which started in 2016.

Controversy

Saudi Arabia is infamous for a scourge of human rights abuses, including the criminalisation of homosexuality, severe restrictions on freedom of speech and women’s rights. Human rights groups and activists have criticized the high levels of football investment from Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East, with accusations of “sportswashing” leveled at the country.

A few weeks ago, German professional footballer Toni Kroos told journalists that Saudi Arabia was ruining the game of soccer. "In the end, it's a decision about money — and against football," Kroos said of the players who had left for Saudi Arabia. The former German national player was not alone in this complaint. Sports commentators and fans alike have criticized the fact that Saudi Arabia has recently been enticing some of the world's most famous football players to its domestic league with extravagant multi-million dollar salaries.

Global Impact

Saudi Arabia has put up a challenge against the European football clubs and gained a lot of attraction and popularity. Many players have been offered to Saudi Arabia over the past few months and many accepted it, reducing the quality in some leagues like Ligue1, La Liga, and over the years if this continues, we might see Saudi Pro League as the most prominent league in the world.

On social media, news reporters like Fabrizio Romano, David Ornstein, and pages like BRFOOTBALL, 433, TRANSFERMARKT, ESPN, have gained fan following due to their reports and latest news about the Saudi league. Fans have been sharing their opinions on this big movement and many are criticizing it due to the controversies and accusations on the country.

List of Players Transferred to Saudi Pro League in 2023

Al-Alhi- Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy, Allan Saint-Maximin, Gabri Veiga.

Al-Ittihad- N'Golo Kante, Fabinho, Karim Benzema, Jota

Al-Nassr- Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Alex Telles, Aymeric Laporte, Marcelo Brozovic, Seko Fofana

Al-Ettifaq- Jordan Henderson, Moussa Dembele, Demarai Gray, Georginio Wijnaldum

Al-Hilal- Ruben Neves, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Neymar, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom

Al-Shabab- Yannick Carrasco, Ever Banega

Conclusion

Saudi Arabia has shaken up the football world and will continue to do so to achieve their goals with proper planning and organization. Hosting the FIFA World Cup remains as their priority, and it will happen if this goes on. They have made clear statements so far, and fans are eager to see what's next for the oil-rich kingdom.