Sponsorship boom lifts Saudi Pro League into world's top three, claims official

The Saudi Pro League says its recent trebling in official partners puts it in the top three in the world for sponsorship revenue, with a staggering 2,000-plus per cent growth in the past six months.

The kingdom’s top tier has enjoyed unprecedented exposure in the past year, the result of recruiting some of football’s most prominent names to the competition.

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo laid the foundations by signing for Al Nassr last December in reportedly one of the most lucrative player deals in the game’s history.

In the summer, the SPL embarked on an ambitious and aggressive player-recruitment programme that included then-Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema, Brazil superstar Neymar, and the likes of N’Golo Kante, Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez also.

The league, which before Ronaldo’s arrival was broadcast on television only in the GCC, now can be viewed in 186 countries.

On Wednesday, during a panel discussion at the World Football Summit Asia in Jeddah, the SPL said its official partners had increased from three last season – title sponsors Roshn, Alinma Bank and EA Sports – to nine since the summer transfer window. It added that another four have been signed up for the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.

Maximilian Haschke, commercial director at the Saudi Pro League, claims that means they now trail only the English Premier League and Spain's La Liga in terms of sponsorship revenue.

“In US dollar value, that puts us now number three in the world as a league,” said Haschke. “In terms of sponsorship revenue as a league, we have bypassed now in the past six months our esteemed colleagues from Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1.

“Which is obviously a good signal that, yes, the first six months were a good