After Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer to the Saudi Pro League last season they have been encouraged to buy more marquee players who are looking for a retirement home or much less competition than Europe. They're offering players unbelievable amount of money so as to make them a Saudi Arabian player. We take a look at those players, the top Saudi League transfers from Europe in the month of June which left us a bit surprised.

Also read : Top 10 Done Deals in June : Premier League edition.

Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema has put pen to paper in order to join the Saudi Arabian club, Al-Ittihad after confirming his departure from Real Madrid. The former France international's contract with the Saudi champions is understood to be for two years, with an option of extending it by a year.

Benzema was supposed to be a free agent after voiding the one-year extension clause he had in his Real Madrid deal. Benzema received a huge wage offer to join Al-Ittihad, who beat Al-Nassr, where Cristiano Ronaldo plays, to the title last month.

The Frenchman is the reigning Ballon d'Or winner and has won 25 major trophies in his 14 years with Real Madrid. He scored 23 goals in 33 appearances for Real Madrid in La Liga and the Champions League.

N'Golo Kante

N'Golo Kanté has joined Saudi Arabia champions Al Ittihad on a three-year deal after his Chelsea contract expired at the end of June. The 32-year-old joined his international teammate, Karim Benzema, who left Real Madrid and signed a three-year contract with the Saudi side. Aai

The former Leicester City midfielder has signed a contract of almost £80m-a-year. The midfielder joined Chelsea from Leicester in 2016 and went on to win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge.

Kante final season at the club was restricted by injuries. The Frenchman required hamstring surgery in October and was unavailable until March, making only seven Premier League appearances in the campaign.

Kalidou Koulibaly

Kalidou Koulibaly has completed his move from Chelsea to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.
He signed a four-year contract until 2026 but departs after less than 12 months in England. The Senegalese defender joined the Saudi Arabian club for €23 million where he has signed a three-year contract with Al-Hilal worth €25 million per season.

Koulibaly was one of the first signings of the Todd Boehly's last summer from Napoli.The 32-year-old Senegal international moved to Stamford Bridge for $40m last summer from Napoli.

He made 25 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring two goals. Koulibaly will join former Chelsea team-mate N'Golo Kante in Saudi Arabia after the midfielder's move to Al Ittihad was confirmed.

Edouard Mendy

Edouard Mendy is the latest high profile player to follow former Blues teammates Kalidou Koulibaly and N'Golo Kante to the Saudi Pro League who left the side during this transfer window.

The Senegalese goalkeeper has left Chelsea after three years to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. 1Al-Ahli paid Chelsea a transfer fee of around £16m for a three-year contract.

He won the Champions League in 2020-21 and kept 49 clean sheets in 105 games.
Mendy was later named Uefa's goalkeeper of the season and Best Fifa men's keeper for 2021. He finished last season as the back-up to Kepa Arrizabalaga and made just three top-flight starts after Potter took charge.

He joined the Blues from French side Rennes in 2020 and was part of the Senegal side to win the Africa Cup of Nations. He made the decisive save in the penalty shootout to help his country beat Egypt.

Ruben Neves

Wolves have confirmed the departure of their captain Rúben Neves to the Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal for a club record £47m. Neves, who had one year remaining on his contract, was part of the Wolves team that won the Championship in 2018 following his move from Porto.

The Portugal midfielder scored 30 goals in 253 appearances during six seasons at Molineux. The 26-year-old helped Wolves to two consecutive seventh-placed finishes in the Premier League, an FA Cup semi-final in 2019 and the Europa League quarter-finals in 2020.

What does it truly mean to be a world champion club? The FIFA Club World Cup provides the answer, pitting the best against one another in a quest for global dominance.

As the 21st edition of Club World Cup is ongoing, with highly competitive and strong clubs fighting for the ultimate glory, it is time to look back at the history of this tournament.

This article will explore all the past winners, top scorers, most successful teams, all at once.

FIFA Club World Cup: Past Winners

The FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament designed to crown the world's best club team, first took place in 2000. It then paused for several years, from 2001 through 2004, before returning as an annual event.

Now, 2025 marks the beginning of an entirely new era for the Club World Cup, featuring an expanded format and a fresh vision for global club football.

Check out the past winners list below:

FIFA Club World Cup: Top Scorers

Here comes the elite list where individual dominance shines:

FIFA Club World Cup: Most Successful Teams

Real Madrid holds the tag of most successful team in FIFA Club World Cup history with 5 titles. Check out the other clubs that follow:

• Real Madrid: 5 wins
• Barcelona: 3 wins
• Bayern Munich: 2 wins
• Corinthians: 2 wins

Following the sacking of Dorival Junior as the head coach of the Brazil national team, a move that was prompted by the Selecao's significant 1-4 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers, the media commenced speculations discussing potential replacements.

Besides Carlo Ancelotti, Jorge Jesus has also been named as a potential candidate. However, The 70-year-old Portuguese coach has responded to these rumours, denying any negotiation with CBF to be appointed as the next head coach of Brazil, discarding the possibility as of now.

Jorge Jesus denies negotiations with Brazil

In an interview with UOL, Jesus, who is currently at the helm of Saudi club Al-Hilal, assured that he has not been contacted by anyone from the Brazilian Football Federation. "No one has spoken to me, at least until today," he stated.

The 'Globo' network has indicated that Al-Hilal head coach Jorge Jesus is the front-runner to become the head coach of the Brazilian national team.

The network also pointed out that Jorge Jesus is not keen to leave his position at Al-Hilal since he expects to stay with the Saudi Pro League side until the end of the AFC Champions League Elite, which concludes on May 3, 2025.

🚨🇧🇷 Jorge Jesus has given his initial availability to become new Brazil head coach, after the end of the season with Al Hilal.

Decision now up to the Brazilian Federation as dream target Carlo Ancelotti surely won’t be available before end of July. pic.twitter.com/122t3HfTbw

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 29, 2025

Further, the network added that Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was the initial choice; however, he is not ready to leave his present job before the end of the 2025 Club World Cup.

The Portuguese coach aims to lead Al-Hilal to triumph in the AFC Champions League Elite and might consider stepping down before the Club World Cup to assume the coaching duty at the Brazilian national team.

Jesus addressed his relationship with Neymar

Recent developments have witnessed prominent figures such as Carlo Ancelotti and Filipe Luis pulling out of contention as of now to take over the Brazil job, solidifying Jesus's position as the front-runner.

Read Also | Brazil wants to sign current Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti 

This development might be a hurdle for Neymar Jr, who reportedly had a strained relationship with the Portuguese coach. 

Their stint together at Al-Hilal was filled with challenges, ending with Neymar leaving Al-Hilal to join Santos under controversial circumstances after being informed that he was not part of Jesus's long-term vision for the team.

When asked on the 'Charla Podcast' about the possibility of reuniting with Jesus in the national setup, Neymar seemed visibly uncomfortable and opted to answer otherwise. "I have nothing to do with this. I'm just a player; don't involve me in this. I'm out," he stated.

However, Jorge Jesus opened up about his relationship with Neymar. In the interview with UOL. "I have no issues with Neymar, but no club or national team can depend on individual players," the coach said, dismissing any conflicting triggers.

Read Also | Brazil fail without Neymar: these stats prove that

The situation raises questions about Neymar's future with the national team and the possible impact of this appointment on the team's dynamics. However, Brazil seeks to bounce back from their recent stint of setbacks and appoint a coach who can lead the team to the coveted success with the 2026 FIFA World Cup at stake.

Many Players have experienced taking the UEFA Champions League match ball home. But few have done it multiple times. Listening to the UEFA Champions League anthem on the pitch while being in the starting lineup is the dream of every other kid football fan. But among the dreamers, few players go on to make further history in the game.

Players who leave a lasting impression through their quality, be it defending, goalkeeping, or even scoring goals. In this article, we will have a look at the players with the most hat-tricks in the UEFA Champions League history.

10. Harry Kane| 2 Hat-tricks| Tottenham Hotspurs & Bayern Munich:

First Hat-trick | Tottenham Hotspurs:

On 26th September 2017, Harry Kane hit his first hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League against APOEL FC, Tottenham Hotspurs won that match 3-0 in the group stage and Kane finished the group stage joint second in the top scorers chart with six goals.

Second Hat-trick | FC Bayern Munich:

On 18th September 2024, Harry Kane hit his second hat-trick against Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League. Kane scored 4 goals and Bayern Munich won that match 9-2 at Allianz Arena in Munich. 

9. Kylian Mbappe | 3 Hat-tricks | Paris Saint-Germain & Real Madrid:

First Hat-trick | Paris Saint-Germain:

On 23 October 2019, Mbappe scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Club Brugge. Mbappe bagged three goals and Paris Saint-Germain won 5-0 against Club Brugge. 

Second Hat-trick | Paris Saint-Germain:

On 17 February 2017, Kylian Mbappe scored his second UEFA Champions League Round of 16 hat-tricks against the mighty FC Barcelona in Parc des Princes. Mbappe scored 3 goals and Moises Keane scored the last goal against Barcelona and they won 4-1 against the Blaugranes.

Third Hat-trick | Real Madrid: 

On 20th February 2025, Kylian Mbappe scored his third UEFA Champions League career Hat-trick against Manchester City in the League phase Knockout's second leg. With Mbappe's hat trick, Real Madrid beat the mighty Manchester City 3-1 and aggregated 6-3, and secured a spot in the Round of 16.

8. Neymar Jr. | 3 Hat-tricks | FC Barcelona & Paris Saint-Germain:

First Hat-trick | FC Barcelona:

On December 11, 2013, Neymar Jr. scored his first-ever hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League at Camp Nou in Spain. In that Lionel Messi was injured, but Neymar stepped up and scored a hat-trick against Celtic FC and FC Barcelona triumphed over a dominant 6-1 win against Celtic FC.

Second Hat-trick | Paris Saint-Germain:

Neymar Junior scored his second UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Red Star Belgrade on 4 October 2018. The Brazilian scored his second Champions League hat-trick with Paris Saint-Germain.

Third Hat-trick | Paris Saint-Germain:

Neymar Junior scored the third UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Istanbul Basaksehir. With the help of the Brazilian wizard's hat-trick, PSG triumphed in a 5-1 win over Istanbul in Parc des Princes in the UEFA Champions League group stage on 9 December 2020.

7. Filippo Inzaghi | 3 Hat-tricks | Juventus & Paris Saint-Germain:

First Hat-trick | Juventus:

Filippo Inzaghi scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Dynamo Kyiv. Filippo Inzaghi became the first Juventus player to score a UEFA Champions League hat-trick when he found the back of the net on three occasions against Dynamo Kyiv in March 1998. Juventus won that match with a comfortable 4-1 scoreline.

Second Hat-trick | Juventus:

On 13 September 2000, Filippo Inzaghi netted his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Hamburg. Filippo Inzaghi's hat-trick rescued Juventus as an astonishing Champions League match against Hamburg finished 4-4 in Germany. Juventus led 3-1 at one stage before falling 4-3 behind and it needed a late penalty from Inzaghi to rescue a point.

Third Hat-trick | AC Milan:

The former Italian international scored his third UEFA Champions League hat-trick in his iconic AC Milan Jersey against Deportivo La Coruna. With the help of his hat-trick AC Milan won with a comfortable 4-0 scoreline in the 2002-03 season.

6. Mario Gomez | 3 Hat-tricks | FC Bayern Munich: 

Mario Gomez scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick against the Romanian side CFR Cluj in November 2010. Almost a year to the day later, the German forward scored a match-winning hat-trick against Napoli to seal a 3-2 win. 

5. Luiz Adriano | 3 Hat-tricks | Shakhtar Donetsk:

Luiz Adriano had registered his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick two years prior when he netted three times in Shakhtar's 5-2 win over Danish side Nordsjaelland in November 2012. Luiz Adriano netted his second UEFA Champions League hat-trick against BATE Borisov in the 2014 season. The Brazilian recorded his third hat-trick against BATE as he inspired Shakhtar to a 5-0 win.

4. Karim Benzema | 4 Hat-tricks | Real Madrid:

Karim Benzema netted his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick for Real Madrid against Auxerre in December 2010. The Frenchman would wait five years for his second as he scored three times in an 8-0 win over Malmo. 

The Frenchman would wait five years for his second as he scored three times in an 8-0 win over Malmo, scoring three against PSG in March 2022, Benzema recorded his fourth UEFA Champions League hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Chelsea in April that year.

3. Robert Lewandowski | 6 Hat-tricks | Dortmund, Bayern Munich, & Barcelona:

The only player in UEFA Champions League history to score the hat-trick for three different clubs.

Robert Lewandowski truly announced himself on the world stage with a four-goal haul for Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid in April 2013, he scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick in Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid. 

The Polish forward had already agreed on terms with Bayern at that point and Lewandowski recorded four hat-tricks for the German giants when opposing Dinamo Zagreb, Red Star Belgrade, Benfica, and lastly Red Bull Salzburg.

A move to Barcelona in 2022 brought Lewandowski his sixth UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Viktoria Plzen.

2. Lionel Messi | 8 Hat-tricks | FC Barcelona:

Lionel Messi scored a UEFA Champions League hat-trick in five consecutive calendar years from 2010. He scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Arsenal in 2010. The Argentine Talisman became the first player in the competition's history to score five goals in a single UEFA Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012.

The former Barcelona legend scored other six UEFA Champions League hat-tricks against Ajax, APOEL Nicosia, Celtic, Manchester City, and PSV Eindhoven, a record equaled by Cristiano Ronaldo just six months later.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo | 8 Hat-tricks | Real Madrid & Juventus:

Cristiano Ronaldo never bagged a UEFA Champions League hat-trick for Manchester United. The Real Madrid legend netted his first hat-trick in the competition against Ajax in 2012. Ronaldo netted seven UEFA Champions League hat-tricks while he was in Real Madrid, the seven club names were - AFC Ajax, Shakhtar Donetsk, VfL Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich, Atlético de Madrid, Galatasaray, and Malmo FF.

Although the most memorable one came against Atlético de Madrid the second time. This time in the colors of Juventus. Juventus progressed 3-2 on aggregate to reach the quarterfinals.

Since Cristiano Ronaldo's groundbreaking move to Al-Nassr in December 2022, the Saudi Pro League has become an attractive destination for several high-profile European stars. His transfer acted as a channel, inspiring many big names to follow in his footsteps and head to the Middle East.

Top players like Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane have made the switch. While the appeal of a new challenge may have played a minor role in their decisions, the well-paid contracts were undoubtedly the main motivation. Former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves even admitted that in December 2023, though he also acknowledged that the league's ambitious project influenced his choice.

As the biggest star in the Saudi Pro League, Cristiano Ronaldo earns an astronomical weekly age, with his presence drawing global attention to the league's expanding brand. But who else comes close to him in terms of earnings?

20 Highest-Paid Footballers in Saudi Pro League history:

Top 10 Highest-Paid Players in Saudi Pro League: 

1. Cristiano Ronaldo | 3.85 million Euros per Week:

The Pioneer, The game-changer, The highest-paid footballer of all time. Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Al-Nassr in January 2023 was not just a transfer- it was a statement. His arrival ignited a wave of big-name signings in the Saudi Pro League, but none have matched his astonishing earnings.

🚨 OFFICIAL: Cristiano Ronaldo joins Al Nassr, here we go! Contract valid until 2025 🇵🇹🇸🇦 #Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/HB562KnaTf

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 30, 2022

Earning twice as much as the next best-paid player, he remains the undisputed financial King of both the league and the World football. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner did not just adapt, he succeeded, finishing 2023 as the year's top goal scorer across all competitions. At 40, he is not just playing-he is redefining the game on a new level.

 2. Karim Benzema | 1.93 million Euros per week: 

Karim Benzema had the option to stay at Real Madrid for another year, but who can blame him for accepting a three-year deal with champions Al-lttihad, well over 150 million? At 35, an age when many players consider retirement, he chose to take a new challenge while securing an astonishing payday.

Official, confirmed. Karim Benzema joins Al Ittihad on two year deal with option for further season. 🟡⚫️🇸🇦 #AlIttihad

Benzema will earn almost €200m per season net salary, commercial deals included. pic.twitter.com/vSrkL4zjJI

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 6, 2023

However, unlike Cristiano Ronaldo, the Frenchman has struggled to settle in the Saudi Pro League, even earning a harsh new nickname from Al-lttihad fans. Despite this, he has still delivered on the pitch, scoring 13 goals and providing eight assists in just 29 games during his debut season in the Middle East.

3. Riyad Mahrez | 1.03 million Euros per week:

Riyad Mahrez ranks third on this list, but he trails significantly behind the top two in earnings, nearly 50% of what Benzema makes. Even so, his 8.3 million euros salary at Manchester City now seems like pocket change compared to the eye-watering sum he is earning at Al-Ahli.

Riyad Mahrez to Al Ahli, here we go! The documents are being exchanged as Man City and Al Ahli want the deal signed by the end of the week. 🚨🟢🇸🇦 #AlAhli

Mahrez will sign until June 2027 — Man City will receive €35m fee with add ons included.

Medical booked in the next 24h. pic.twitter.com/Vh390HYr6V

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 19, 2023

Now making more than Five times his City wages, the Algerian international continues to showcase the same dazzling skill in Saudi Arabia that Premier League fans enjoyed weekly. With 12 goals and 14 assists at the time of writing, he is proving his worth, even if Al-Ahli fell short of winning Saudi Pro League title in his debut season.

4. Sadio Mane | 769k euros Per Week: 

Sadio Mane's time at Bayern Munich can fairly be described as pathetic. The Senegalese forward, who once tortured Premier League defenses with Liverpool and Southampton, struggled to find favor in Bavaria. His difficult spells even included a physical argument with teammate Leroy Sane. 

Sadio Mané to Al Nassr, here we go! Deal in place between the two clubs, Bayern have accepted the verbal proposal after advanced talks yesterday 🟡🔵🇸🇦

Paperwork to be checked on player side and then medical will be booked, deal will be done.

Fofana, Brozović, Telles… Mané ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/w0eZqFQxgD

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 28, 2023

As a result, securing a move away from the Allianz Arena become Mane's top priority. He ultimately signed for Al-Nassr, joining forces with Cristiano Ronaldo. The 32-year-old penned a deal reportedly with around 34 million euros per year, placing him just ahead of another former Premier League star.

5. Kalidou Koulibaly | 667k euros Per Week:

Chelsea fans were confident they had found the perfect defensive partner for Thiago Silva in Kalidou Koulibaly, even handing him John Terry's iconic number. However, the Senegalese defender endured a challenging spell at Stamford Bridge and was moved on in 2023 for 20 million euros.

The moment Kalidou Koulibaly signed for Al-Hilal 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/IrskVaXxO7

— GOAL (@goal) June 26, 2023

Since joining Al-Hilal, Koulibaly has been a steady presence at the back, leaving his Premier struggles behind to help guide his new team to the 2023/24 Saudi Pro League title. 

Earning around 295,000 euros per week in Chelsea, the 33-year-old nearly doubted his wages with the move. In an interview, he even admitted that the amazing financial offer played a major role in his decision.

"I can’t deny it. With this money, I will be able to help my whole family to live well, from my parents to my cousins"

Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr have acquired the signing of Jhon Duran, the 21-year-old Colombian striker from Aston Villa. 

Duran, who has scored 10 goals for Aston Villa across the Premier League and UCL this season, has signed a gigantic five-year contract with the Cristiano Ronaldo-led club. 

The Colombian youngster is the latest inclusion to follow the footsteps of former Premier League footballers who left the top division of English football to explore new opportunities in Saudi Arabia. 

In this article, Sportz Point assesses every Premier League player who went to play for various Saudi Pro League clubs.

1. N'Golo Kante - Chelsea to Al-Ittihad (2023)

N'Golo Kante is the foremost renowned footballer who left the Premier League to join the Saudi Pro League, bringing a revolution in the business for Saudi Pro League clubs. 

The French World Cup winner and always a fan-favourite, left Chelsea in July 2023 to join Al-Ittihad on a free transfer. Kante received a 3-year contract at the Saudi club, where he reportedly earns a whopping €100 million per year. 

The 33-year-old midfielder is currently playing for Al-Ittihad, and his contract runs until June 2026.

Read Also | N'Golo Kante has left the Premier League : End of an Era

2. Kalidou Koulibaly - Chelsea to Al-Hilal (2023)

In July 2023, Kalidou Koulibaly signed for the current Saudi Champions Al-Hilal for an undisclosed fee, reportedly worth €23 million. The Senegal international spent only one year in Chelsea, where he joined in 2022 from the Italian side Napoli. 

The 33-year-old defender is currently donning the Al-Hilal shirt, where he is on a contract until June 2026.

3. Edouard Mendy - Chelsea to Al-Ahli (2023)

Edouard Mendy will always be a legend for Chelsea fans for his towering performance as the goalkeeper in Chelsea's UCL-winning campaign in 2020-21.

However, in a shocking move in July 2023, the Senegal international joined Al-Ahli for a reported fee of €19 million. The 32-year-old goalkeeper is on a three-year contract with Al-Ahli, expiring in June 2026.

4. Demarai Gray - Everton to Al-Ettifaq (2023)

Demarai Gray signed for Al-Ettifaq on the deadline day of the transfer window in Saudi Arabia, on September 7th, 2023. 

The former Everton man also played for Leicester City and Bayer Leverkusen before his two-year stint at Everton. 

However, the Jamaican international penned down a four-year contract with the Saudi outfit, keeping him at the club until June of 2027. 

5. Aleksandar Mitrovic - Fulham to Al-Hilal (2023)

Aleksandar Mitrovic has proved himself as arguably the best overseas signing the Saudi Pro League has made since the door opened in 2023. The Serbian forward signed for Al-Hilal in August 2023. He left Fulham, where he had a dream season in 2022-23, scoring 14 goals in just 24 PL appearances. 

However, Al-Hilal paid a reported fee of €52 million to sign Mitrovic from Fulham. Since arriving in Saudi, the 30-year-old striker has netted 60 goals and provided 11 assists in 67 appearances for Al-Hilal, leading the club to the Saudi Arabian League title in 2023-24 and various other accolades. 

6. Ezgjan Alioski - Leeds to Al-Ahli (2021)

Although Kante is the PL footballer who had drawn significant attention from Saudi Clubs, it was Ezgjan Alioski who first joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in 2021, leaving Leeds United on a free transfer.

However, the Macedonian left-back was loaned to Fenerbahce only after a year, and he spent a one-year loan stint at the Turkish side before permanently returning to Al-Ahli in June 2023. Alioski is in the last year of his contract, as the agreement expires in June 2025. 

7. Fabinho - Liverpool to Al-Ittihad (2023)

Fabinho joined Al-Ittihad in July 2023 for a transfer fee of almost €47 million, leaving his former club Liverpool.

The former Liverpool captain spent a long 5-year spell at Liverpool, winning almost everything with the Merseyside club. The Brazilian defensive midfielder is currently on a three-year contract with Al-Ittihad, binding him to the club until June 2026.

8. Roberto Firmino - Liverpool to Al-Ahli (2023)

Roberto Firmino, another cult hero of Liverpool, left the club in July 2023 to sign for Al-Ahli Saudi on a free transfer after his contract expired at the end of the 2022-23 season. 

Firmino played for Liverpool from 2015 to 2023, making him a legend for the Premier League club, where he won almost everything, scoring 111 goals in 362 games. 

The 33-year-old Brazilian is on a three-year deal with the Saudi club, expiring on June 2026.

9. Jordan Henderson - Liverpool to Al-Ettifaq (2023)

The case of Jordan Henderson is a unique instance, as he spent only 6 months in Saudi. The former Liverpool skipper moved to Al-Ettifaq after a €14 million transfer in July 2023, penning a three-year deal with the Saudi side. 

However, things did not go well with the England international as he failed to adjust to the Saudi Arabian climate and also had family reasons. Henderson left Al-Ettifaq in January 2024 as he returned to Europe to play for Ajax Amsterdam. 

Henderson currently captains the Dutch side, where his contract runs until June 2026.

10. Aymeric Laporte - Man City to Al-Nassr (2023)

Aymeric Laporte left Manchester City to join Al-Nassr in July 2023 after the Saudi side paid almost €28 million in transfer fees. 

The dynamic Spanish center-back was handed a three-year contract with the Saudi club, which runs until June 2026. Although he has not moved to any other club, he has recently been linked to a move to the Spanish giants, Real Madrid.

11. Riyad Mahrez - Man City to Al-Ahli (2023)

Riyad Mahrez has always been a silent cornerstone for Manchester City's success in recent years under Pep Guardiola. Mahrez also played a significant part in the iconic Premier League-winning campaign of Leicester City in 2016.

However, the Algerian left City in July 2023 on a €35 million transfer to join Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League. The 33-year-old winger was handed a four-year contract that runs until June 2027.

12. Alex Telles - Man United to Al-Nassr (2023)

Alex Telles joined his national teammate Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr after joining the Saudi side on a €4.6 million transfer. Telles left Manchester United to start anew in the Middle East.

However, his stint at Al-Nassr was full of obstacles, as only after a year, the Portuguese full-back terminated his contract by mutual agreement and joined the Brazilian side Botafogo on a free transfer in September 2024.

13. Allan Saint-Maximin - Newcastle to Al-Ahli (2023)

Allan Saint-Maximin emerged as one of the best forwards in the Premier League, before making a shocking move to Al-Ahli from Newcastle United for a transfer fee worth almost €28 million.

However, Maximin is now playing for Fenerbahce after being loaned out in July 2024, although he has a contract with Al-Ahli until June 2026.

14. Ruben Neves - Wolves to Al-Hilal (2023)

Ruben Neves etched his name in the history of Wolverhampton Wanderers; playing for the English side for almost seven years.

The Portuguese defensive midfielder left his beloved Wolves to join Al-Hilal in July 2023 on a huge €55 million transfer. Neves is contracted with Al-Hilal until June 2026.

15. Moussa Diaby - Aston Villa to Al-Ittihad (2024)

Moussa Diaby proved himself as one of the best emerging talents in world football but he unexpectedly signed for Al-Ittihad in July 2024, leaving Aston Villa on a huge €60 million transfer.

The 25-year-old French midfielder also played for renowned European clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and a significant four-year spell at Bayer Leverkusen. 

16. Ivan Toney - Brentford to Al-Ahli (2024)

Ivan Toney entered the England national team following his masterful performance with Brentford in the Premier League. However, he left the English side in August 2024, as Al-ahli paid a transfer fee of €42 million for the English forward.

The 28-year-old forward is currently playing for Al-Ahli where he is on a mega contract that runs until June 2028.

17. Johann Berg Gudmundsson - Burnley to Al-Orobah (2024)

Johann Berg Gudmundsson played an integral part in Burnley's promotion to the Premier League for the 2023-24 season. However, the Iceland international moved to Al-Orobah in August 2024 for an undisclosed fee. 

The 34-year-old winger is in the last year of his contract with Al-Orobah as it ends in June 2025.

18. Marek Rodak - Fulham to Al-Ettifaq (2024)

Marek Rodak, the Slovak international, left Fulham to join Al-Ettifaq on a free transfer in August 2024.

The 28-year-old goalkeeper is on a contract until June 2027.

19. Joao Cancelo - Man City to Al-Hilal (2024)

Joao Cancelo spent a tumultuous year in 2023, as he spent two different loan spells in Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona. However, Barcelona failed to trigger his release clause in August 2024 as Manchester City sold the Portuguese international to Al-Hilal on a modest €25 million transfer.

The 30-year-old fullback signed a three-year contract that runs until June 2027.

20. Kurt Zouma - West Ham to Al-Orobah (2024)

Kurt Zouma left West Ham United in August 2024 after spending almost three years at the English side, as he was loaned to Al-Orobah for a year. The French defender's loan ends in June 2025. 

21. Jhon Duran - Aston Villa to Al-Nassr (2025)

Jhon Duran is the latest Premier League footballer to leave top-tier English football to join Saudi Pro League. 

Al-Nassr has signed the Colombian youngster from Aston Villa for a huge €77 transfer fee including the add-ons. The 21-year-old striker, who signed a mega five-year contract, will stay at Al-Nassr until June 2030.