In recent times, the Saudi Professional League has lured plenty of superstars to play their soccer within the Center East, with huge cash on supply.
Cristiano Ronaldo was one of many first huge names to make the transfer to Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr in 2023 and the Portuguese icon now picks up an eye-watering £178m per season.
Some star gamers have turned down strikes to the Saudi Professional League, together with Lionel Messi, Bruno Fernandes and Kylian Mbappe. Nevertheless, the likes of Neymar, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante swapped a number of the finest golf equipment in Europe for Saudi Arabia.
Darwin Nunez is the newest to take action, heading to Al-Hilal from Liverpool in a switch value an preliminary €53m. However the place does he rank on a listing of the ten most costly Saudi Professional League transfers of all-time?
10 most costly Saudi Professional League transfers | |||
---|---|---|---|
Participant | From | To | Payment |
Neymar | PSG | Al-Hilal | €90m |
Jhon Duran | Aston Villa | Al-Nassr | €77m |
Mateo Retegui | Atalanta | Al-Qadsiah | €68.25m |
Moussa Diaby | Aston Villa | Al-Nassr | €60m |
Malcom | Zenit | Al-Hilal | €60m |
Otavio | FC Porto | Al-Nassr | €60m |
Ruben Neves | Wolves | Al-Hilal | €55m |
Darwin Nunez | Liverpool | Al-Hilal | €53m |
Aleksandar Mitrovic | Fulham | Al-Hilal | €52.6m |
Galeno | FC Porto | Al-Ahli | €50m |
10
Galeno
€50m to Al-Ahli
Brazilian winger Galeno swapped FC Porto for Al-Ahli in 2025 in a deal value €50m.
Arguably on the peak of his powers on the age of 27 when swapping Portugal for Saudi Arabia, Galeno helped Al-Ahli win the first-ever AFC Champions League Elite title, scoring within the closing towards Kawasaki Frontale.
9
Aleksandar Mitrovic
€52.6m to Al-Hilal
Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored objectives all over the place he has been throughout his profession, and after starring in England for eight years with Newcastle United and Fulham, caught the eye of Al-Hilal.
In 2023 they determined to pay these at Craven Cottage €52.6m for the Serbian striker, who has gone on to common greater than a purpose or an help every sport. Mitrovic helped Al-Hilal win a league title in 2023/24 and the Saudi Cup.
8
Darwin Nunez
€53m to Al-Hilal
Trying prone to be Mitrovic’s alternative at Al-Hilal in 2025 is Darwin Nunez.
The previous Liverpool striker was hit or miss at Anfield after costing the Reds £85m, with Arne Slot and people on Merseyside deciding to money in midway by means of a six-year deal.
7
Ruben Neves
€55m to Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal have been huge spenders lately and likewise splashed the money on midfielder Ruben Neves in 2023.
The Portugal midfielder adopted his nationwide teammate Ronaldo to the Saudi Professional League, paying Premier League aspect Wolves €55m.
6
Otavio
€60m to Al-Nassr
One other Portuguese star who headed to the Center East in 2023 was Otavio, with Al-Nassr triggering his €60m launch clause in his FC Porto contract.
Taking part in alongside Ronaldo in assault, the winger has made near 100 appearances for Al-Nassr and is underneath contract till 2026.
5
Malcom
€60m to Al-Hilal
Malcom value Barcelona greater than €40m in 2018, nevertheless, after promoting the Brazilian winger to Zenit Saint Petersburg, he was then on the transfer once more in 2023, becoming a member of Al-Hilal.
Nonetheless on the books in 2025, Malcom has received one Saudi League title, one Saudi Cup and two Saudi Tremendous Cups.
4
Moussa Diaby
€60m to Al-Ittihad
Regardless of signing the likes of Benzema, Kante and Fabinho lately, Al-Ittihad’s most costly signing is Moussa Diaby.
Costing €60m from Aston Villa in 2024, Diaby has was an help machine for Al-Ittihad, registering 16 in his first Al-Ittihad season.
3
Mateo Retegui
€68.25m to Al-Qadsiah
After ending fourth within the 2024/25 Saudi Professional League, Al-Qadsiah splashed the money and broke their switch report by signing striker Mateo Retegui from Atalanta.
Trying to topple the likes of Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr, Retegui joins Al-Qadsiah after scoring 25 Serie A objectives in 24/25.
2
Jhon Duran
€77m to Al-Nassr
Like Diaby, Aston Villa additionally offered Jhon Duran for big-money to the Saudi Professional League, with Al-Nassr briefly partnering the Colombian alongside Ronaldo.
They paid a club-record €77m for the ahead, nevertheless, Duran was loaned out to Turkish aspect Fenerbahce for the 2025/26 season.
1
Neymar
€90m to Al-Hilal
Topping the charts as the most costly Saudi Professional League switch of all time is Neymar, who value Al-Hilal €90m from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.
Sadly for Neymar and Al-Hilal, the Brazilian suffered a critical harm shortly after becoming a member of and by no means starred in Saudi Arabia, making simply seven appearances for the membership.
He left in 2025 after having his contract terminated, returning to Santos.
Neymar’s Al-Hilal stats | |
---|---|
Video games | 7 |
Targets | 1 |
Assists | 3 |
Minutes performed | 428 |