Top Saudi League Transfers in June

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.