Vinicius Jr to Saudi: Club and real price of '€1 BILLION' deal revealed

Tom Weber

Updated: 22 Jan 2025 13:03 CST
4 min read

Al-Ahli have been 'chosen' by Saudi dealmakers as the club to launch a world-record bid for Vinicius Jr in the summer, according to a report.

The Real Madrid megastar has been heavily linked with a switch to the Saudi Pro League in recent months. With the Saudi top flight aiming to become one of the best divisions in world football, significant fees have been spent on luring big-name players to the Middle East.

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A divisive figure in Spain, Vinicius has faced rampant abuse while playing for Real Madrid and there have been suggestions that he could look to get out despite extending his contract in October 2023.

Recently, Pro League CEO Omar Mugharbel claimed that a transfer of Vinicius to Saudi Arabia is 'only a matter of time' and it appears as though that confidence is well founded.

According to Ben Jacobs, this saga will be one to watch in the upcoming summer window.

Vinicius to 'only' cost €350m?

The journalist, who is usually extremely reliable on Saudi Pro League transfers, has spilt the beans on the information he has received regarding the Saudi interest in the Brazilian winger.

Jacobs reports that Saudi dealmakers have 'chosen' Al-Ahli as the club that would sign the 24-year-old, although Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr have also expressed an interest in signing him.

Moreover, despite Saudi Arabia's seemingly limitless funds, not even a PIF-owned Pro League club like Al-Ahli would be prepared to pay his €1 billion Real Madrid release clause. Instead, Jacobs reports that they will test Los Blancos' resolve with a record €350 million bid.

"Al-Ahli is the team in mind, and the reason for that is because you've got Al-Ittihad [with Karim] Benzema, Al-Nassr [with Cristiano] Ronaldo, and at the moment anyway, Al-Hilal [with] Neymar. If Neymar does leave, they're looking for Mo Salah," Jacobs said.

"And even though Al-Ahli have got some incredible players, including Ivan Toney, Bobby Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, the feeling is that there is room for that one extra elite star. So talks have taken place on the player side already with Al-Ahli in mind, and Saudi may be looking to try something pretty audacious in the summer.

"It's obviously going to be very difficult to pull off in 2025 but here's what I'm told - a bit like a world record offer for Kylian Mbappe when he was still at PSG, that was turned away.

"Saudi are prepared to pay not that €1bn release clause, but €350m. That is the number they are thinking of to try and make Real Madrid go 'hold on a minute. Is that just too good to turn down?'

"There's no yes yet from the player, but watch this space. Al-Ahli, Vini Jr, summer 2025, €350m."