The SUSTG Review wrote in July that Saudi Arabia’s professional football transfer strategy has evolved. After numerous blockbuster acquisitions in 2023, the current transfer window (though not over) has been subdued.
The Saudi Professional League (SPL) opened it’s season today, August 22, 2024 and it will run through May 26, 2025. The Summer Transfer Window extends from July 18 to October 6, 2024. The Winter Transfer Window is from January 1-31, 2025.
As noted in SUSTG Review‘s feature piece a month ago, With transfer season underway Saudi Professional League evolves strategy, after shocking the global football world in the 2023 Summer Transfer Window when four clubs under the Public Investment Fund (PIF)—Al Ittihad, Al Nassr, Al Hilal, and Al Ahli—spent over $908 million, this transfer window was expected to be quieter.
The focus is on sustainable growth for the league, in particular prioritizing youth and home grown talent.
There have, however, been some significant transfers and a couple of clubs outside the big four – Al Ittihad, Al Nassr, Al Hilal and Al Ahli – have gotten into the action.
Mark Lomas, a terrific source for news about the SPL, details the transfers here for Al Arabiya:
“Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Marseille to Al Qadisah)
Standing head and shoulders above the rest in terms of star power, Aubameyang represents a major coup for newly promoted Al Qadsiah. The club from Dammam – owned by Aramco – is aiming to make a major splash on its return to the Saudi Pro League and Aubameyang is unquestionably its headline signing. The Gabon striker is not only an accomplished scorer but an entertaining player who will provide quality and creativity.
Moussa Diaby (Aston Villa to Al Ittihad)
The biggest summer transfer in terms of outlay, Diaby’s $67m move to Al Ittihad directly from Premier League side Aston Villa was a huge statement of intent from the Jeddah giant, which is aiming to bounce back under new coach Laurent Blanc after a disappointing fifth-place finish last season. Diaby will join fellow Frenchman N’Golo Kante in the heart of Al Ittihad’s midfield.
Nacho Fernandez (Real Madrid to Al Qadsiah)
The second-most decorated player in Real Madrid’s illustrious history, Nacho won 26 major trophies during his 13-year career at the Bernabeu before finally leaving Los Blancos this summer on a free transfer. He arrives as another big-name acquisition for Al Qadsiah, bringing experience and a winning mentality that marries with the club’s ambitions.
Bento (Athletico Paranaense to Al Nassr)
Popular goalkeeper David Ospina returned to South America this summer to rejoin his first club Atletico Nacional but in the opposite direction came €18m signing Bento. Al Nassr’s new No. 1 is a Brazil international who made his debut for his country in March. The 25-year-old shot-stopper played more than 100 games for hometown club Athletico Paranaense before deciding to embark on a new challenge in the Gulf.
Houssem Aouar (Roma to Al Ittihad)
Another player who has swapped a major European league for Saudi Arabia this summer is midfielder Aouar, who departed Italian Serie A side Roma for Al Ittihad. Aouar’s arrival alongside Moussa Diaby gives Ittihad’s midfield a more youthful feel this season, with the Algerian opting to leave Roma after struggling to establish himself in the club’s starting XI last season.
Giacomo Bonaventura (Fiorentina to Al Shabab)
The veteran midfielder has been brought in to plug the gap left by Ivan Rakitic’s hasty departure from Al Shabab after only six months at the club. Bonaventura possesses an abundance of experience in his native Italy; he played for Atlanta for seven years, AC Milan for six and – most recently – Fiorentina for four.
Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al Ittihad to Al Shabab)
Looking to benefit from Bonaventura’s presence will be Abderrazak Hamdallah, whose free transfer looks to be a seriously shrewd piece of business by Al Shabab. The Saudi Pro League’s top scorer in 2022-23 as Al Ittihad won the title, Hamdallah is a seasoned striker in Saudi Arabia having netted 129 goals in the league and a further 26 in the Kingdom’s cup competitions over the past six years.”
Al-Hilal are the defending champions, having won their record-extending 19th title last season. Al-Kholood, Al-Orobah, and Al-Qadsiah join as the three promoted clubs. They replaced Abha, Al-Hazem, and Al-Tai who were relegated to the 2024/25 Saudi First Division.
Matches played today are Al-Taawoun v. Al-Feiha; Al-Nassr v. Al-Raed; Al-Wehda v. Al-Riyadh
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