The Saudi Pro League has been on a spending spree this summer, with a host of top names set to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the competition
There's revolution in the air this summer, with the riches of the Saudi Pro League dramatically transforming the footballing landscape over the past few months. Not content with only signing Cristiano Ronaldo, Saudi chiefs have dramatically stepped up their attempts to convince some of the world's best players to follow CR7's example.
Karim Benzema was the first big name to make the move, joining Al-Ittihad after shocking the globe by revealing that he would be leaving Real Madrid at the end of his contract. This was just the beginning, though. Since Benzema made his switch official, there has scarcely been a high-profile player in Europe that hasn't been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.
It's set to be a crazy summer, but don't worry, GOAL is here to keep you informed of all the latest developments as the Saudi Pro League sets out to flex its muscles in the transfer market…
Getty ImagesOFFICIAL: Karim Benzema to Al-Ittihad
No one was expecting Benzema to leave Real Madrid this summer, but he had his head turned by an eye-watering offer from Al-Ittihad. The Saudi champions are reportedly paying him €200 million (£172m/$213m) per season. Benzema is set to remain at Al-Ittihad for two years, though he can opt to extend that by 12 months in 2025.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesOFFICIAL: Yassine Bounou to Al-Hilal
Despite being a key star at Sevilla, Yassine Bounou signed for Al Hilal on a three-year contract in a deal worth around €21m. The 32-year-old spent four years at Sevilla, initially signing on loan, and played a crucial role as the La Liga side won two Europa League titles. Not only that, the Moroccan was linked with a move to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich but opted to reject that for the Saudi Pro League.
Getty ImagesOFFICIAL: Aleksandar Mitrovic to Al-Hilal
After a lot of speculation, Al Hilal finally signed Aleksandar Mitrovic in a move worth around £46 million (€53.5m, $58.6m) despite the fact that Fulham rejected their initial approach. However, with the Serbian very keen on leaving the Cottagers for the Saudi Pro League, Fulham had no choice but to accept their fate. The 28-year-old has signed a three-year contract and left Craven Cottage after making over 200 appearances.
Getty ImagesOFFICIAL: Otavio to Al-Nassr
Despite serious interest from Italy and England, Otavio opted to sign for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr this summer, joining country-man Cristiano Ronaldo at the club. The 28-year-old signed a three-year deal and left Porto after spending more than seven years, making over 280 appearances. Reports have suggested that the Portuguese giants have received a hefty €60m ($65.5m/£51.5m) transfer fee for their prized asset, with the player set bank around €11m per year.