Neymar, Benzema & the 10 biggest Saudi Pro League transfers of the summer

James Shearman

Updated: 7 Sept 2023 20:26 BST
6 min read

The Saudi Pro League has emerged as one of the richest divisions in football over the past year.

In fact, only the Premier League spent more on players in the summer transfer window.

Saudi clubs attracted some of the top talent from across Europe, with several players unable to turn down the millions on offer to them.

FootballTransfers takes you through the 10 biggest Saudi Pro League transfers of the summer.

MORE: Saudi Pro League summer transfers 2023: All the Done Deals

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Sadio Mane - €30m (Bayern to Al-Nassr)

Sadio Mane left Liverpool as a club legend having netted 120 goals in just under 270 appearances for the Reds.

His transfer to Bayern Munich, however, didn't go as planned. Mane was seen as Robert Lewandowski's replacement, despite rarely playing as a centre forward at Liverpool, and ultimately failed to deliver.

Thomas Tuchel publicly criticised the Senegal international for his "disappointing" season and his exit was inevitable after that.

Riyad Mahrez - €35m (Man City to Al-Ahli)

After years of success at Manchester City, Riyad Mahrez decided it was time for a new challenge after helping Pep Guardiola's side win the treble in his final year at the club.

The Algerian registered 78 goals and 59 assists for the club and departed the Premier League as one of its modern greats.

At 32 years of age, and having never relied on his pace, Mahrez could be a star in Saudi Arabia for years to come.

N'Golo Kante - Free Transfer (Chelsea to Al-Ittihad)

N'Golo Kante helped Leicester to achieve the unthinkable in lifting the Premier League trophy, before going on to become a club legend at Chelsea.

With three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a World Cup to his name, he will go down as an all-time great central midfielder.

Even though he is no longer at the peak of his powers, the Frenchman is easily one of Saudi Arabia's biggest summer signings.

MORE: Saudi Pro League: How to watch on TV or live stream

Ruben Neves - €55m (from Wolves to Al-Hilal)

Ruben Neves’ €55m move from Wolverhampton Wanderers to Al-Hilal was the most expensive transfer in Saudi Pro League history at the time.

The midfielder, who became the youngest ever captain in Champions League history at Porto, was also wanted by La Liga champions Barcelona.

The Saudi Pro League made a huge statement by beating La Blaugrana to the capture of an excellent 26-year-old player.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic - €42m (Lazio to Al-Hilal)

Perennially linked with Champions League clubs, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic finally left Lazio this summer eight years at the club.

The Serbian joined Al-Hilal on a three-year contract, keeping him at the club until 2026 - when he will be 31.

It came as a shock to many that such a top player would move to the league in the prime of his career.

Karim Benzema - Free Transfer (Real Madrid to Al-Ittihad)

Karim Benzema left Real Madrid for Al-Ittihad as the reigning Ballon d'Or winner.

He may be 35, but Benzema remains one of the five best strikers in the world and is a huge asset to the Saudi Pro League.

Expect him to be one of the the standout performers in what is now a star-studded league, perhaps scoring more than any of his rivals.

Fabinho - €46.7m (from Liverpool to Al-Ittihad)

Despite being just 29 years of age, Fabinho looked far from his best during the 2022-23 season and so Liverpool took the opportunity to sell him to Al-Ittihad for €46.7m.

The Brazilian was pivotal to Liverpool's success in the 2019 Champions League final and the 2019-20 Premier League season, offering defensive stability in a vastly attacking lineup, and he will be sorely missed at Anfield.

The move to Saudi Arabia, where he will play alongside Kante, could reinvigorate his career.

Aleksandar Mitrovic - €52.5m (from Fulham to Al-Hilal)

Aleksandar Mitrovic joined Al-Hilal in mid-August after weeks of speculation that he would leave Fulham.

The Serbian striker left the west London club as their sixth-highest goal-scorer in history (150), and is also their record sale.

The 28-year-old is one of the favourites to be the league's top goalscorer and could lead Al-Hilal to the title.

✅ @JHenderson
✅ @MDembele_10
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✅🆕 @22Demarai @Ettifaq_EN have added a lot of talent from outside of the #RoshnSaudiLeague ✍️#yallaRSL pic.twitter.com/3qPcH8EyyC
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) September 7, 2023

Malcom - €60m (from Zenit to Al-Hilal)

Malcom is best known for his failed transfer to Barcelona, which lasted just 12 months and saw him score just four goals in 24 appearances.

Remarkably, Barcelona turned a €500k profit on the Brazil winger when they sold him to Zenit one year after purchasing him, with Malcom enjoying a prolific stint in Russia.

He bagged 42 goals for the club in just over 100 appearances before Al-Hilal made him the most expensive Saudi Pro League player ever, before Neymar took that title from him.

Neymar - €90m (from PSG to Al-Hilal)

Malcom's transfer record was obliterated by his countryman Neymar when Al-Hilal spent €90m to lure him away from PSG.

After a joyous period at Barcelona, Neymar endured an injury-hit career in France, and ultimately failed to win the Champions League or the Ballon d'Or - his two targets upon arriving at the Parc des Princes.

He is arguably the third-most high-profile player of the 21st century, behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and his presence alone makes the Saudi Pro League an enetratining product.