It was a real bombshell in the summer of 2023. Six months after the recruitment of Cristiano Ronaldo from Al-Nassr, the Saudi Pro League had not skimped on the means to strengthen its championship. Thus, more than 977 million euros had been spent (balance of -906.5M, second highest total behind the Premier League) and the Saudi championship was the fourth most spender ahead of the Bundesliga and La Liga. Al-Hilal had welcomed Neymar, Malcom, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Kalidou Koulibaly while Al-Nassr bet on Sadio Mané, Marcelo Brozovic and Aymeric Laporte. Al-Ittihad had offered Fabinho, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté while Riyad Mahrez, Franck Kessié and Roberto Firmino had joined Al-Ahli. The start of a new era?
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A less flamboyant but still expensive transfer window
This summer, the situation was slightly different, but the Saudi Pro League remained active. The sixth highest spending league behind the five major European leagues, the SPL spent €328.92 million before the last day of the transfer window. Its transfer balance is also the third most negative behind the Premier League and Serie A. Al-Ahli paid €51 million on Ivan Toney (Brentford) and Alexander (Fluminense) while Al-Hilal put €53.94 million on the table for Moteb Al-Harbi (Al Shabab, €28.94 million) and João Cancelo (Manchester City, €25 million). Al-Ittihad were the biggest spenders with €96.7 million spent on Moussa Diaby (€60m, Aston Villa), Houssem Aouar (€12m, AS Roma), Predrag Rajkovic (€8m, Mallorca), Ahmed Al-Ghamdi (€7.36m, Al-Ettifaq), Saad Al-Mousa (€6.91m, Al-Ettifaq) and Muath Fagihy (€2.43m, Al-Hilal). On the Al-Nassr side, Bento (Athlético Paranaense), Wesley (Corinthians) and Salem Al-Najdi (Al-Fateh) will have cost €40.35 million.
Read PSG: everything is wrapped up for Danilo Pereira at Al-Ittihad
Finally, the ambitious promoted Al-Qadsiah put 79.2 million euros on the table for Eezquiel Fernandez (Boca Juniors), Cameron Puertas (Union Saint-Gilloise), Julian Quinones (Club América), Gaston Alvarez (Getafe), Pierre-Emerick Aubayemang (Olympique de Marseille), Iker Almena (Girona), Ali Adullah Hazazi (Al-Ettifaq), Nahitan Nandez (Cagliari), Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg) and Nacho Fernandez (Real Madrid). Many movements that will not be the last however. If the main European championships saw the transfer window end last Friday, the Saudi Pro League still has this Monday to conclude the last arrivals. And some clubs are still busy strengthening themselves.
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Al-Ittihad attacks in all directions, Osimhen it’s over
This is particularly the case for Al-Ittihad, which could exceed the 100 million euros spent. Only fifth last season despite its status as defending champion, the Jeddah club wants to acquire a new winger to support Moussa Diaby and Karim Benzema in attack. Al-Shabab winger Yannick Carrasco (30 years old) has been linked to Al-Ittihad but that seems to be cooling off. On the other hand, Laurent Blanc’s team has made a new offer for Galeno according to And she was. After a proposal of 40 million euros rejected by Porto, the Saudi club should this time offer 50 million euros for the 26-year-old Brazilian winger.
According to information from The AtleticArsenal have refused a loan offer of 5 million euros plus an obligation of between 20 and 25 million euros for Leandro Trossard. As we revealed to you, negotiations are also taking place between Al-Ittihad and Danilo Pereira (32 years old) of Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the transfer window for a transfer estimated at around 5 million euros. Al-Okhdood for its part has just bought Cameroonian striker Christian Bassogog (28 years old). A long-running summer affair, the arrival of Victor Osimhen on the Al-Ahli side will not take place. Matthias Jaissle’s team has finished its transfer window with Ivan Toney. Finally, Al-Shabab is trying to attract Marseille player Chancel Mbemba but the latter has rejected this offer but it is not over. The next few hours are likely to be active on the SPL side, where Al-Ittihad will be a real animator.
Pub. and 02/09/2024 12:48 AM to 02/09/2024 7:01 PM
