Saudi clubs spent $957m in transfer window: Deloitte

In this handout picture released by the Saudi Al-Hilal football club on August 15, 2023, Brazilian forward Neymar (L) poses for a picture with Hilal President Fahad bin Nafel in Paris. – Brazil forward Neymar has signed for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain, the clubs announced today, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema as the latest big name lured to the oil-rich Gulf state. (Photo by – / Saudi Pro League / AFP)

Saudi Arabian football clubs splashed $957 million on players in the summer transfer window, with a net spend of $907 million that was second only to England’s Premier League, Deloitte said on Friday.

Star players such as Neymar and Karim Benzema were among 94 overseas acquisitions, including 37 from Europe’s top five leagues, the financial consultancy’s Sports Business Group said.

Much of the Saudi Pro League’s business was done with English Premier League clubs, which received $698 million in overseas transfer fees including $312 million from Saudi teams.

The Pro League’s net spend, deducting money received from selling players, was $907 million, placing it behind the Premier League’s net spend of $1.39 billion.

Saudi clubs spent $148 million in France’s Ligue 1, $122 million in Italy’s Serie A, $116 in Spain’s La Liga and $32 million in Germany’s Bundesliga, Deloitte said.

The Saudi Pro League’s high placing came despite a busy window where the big five’s gross spend was $6.1 billion, about a quarter higher than last summer’s $4.85 billion.

The Pro League, including four teams owned by the government’s oil-funded Public Investment Fund, has been buying players to revamp the league as part of the country’s ambitious economic diversification plan.

Deloitte’s figures do not include Al-Nassr’s