Saudi Pro League season starts with focus on youth over superstars

The Saudi Pro League kicks off its new season with a noticeable shift in transfer strategy, moving away from signing aging global superstars towards acquiring promising young talent. This approach contrasts with the high-profile arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Neymar Jr. in previous seasons.

While Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in 2022 and Benzema arrived at Al Ittihad a year later, both as free agents in their mid-30s, the league faced challenges. The expensive acquisition of Neymar for Al Hilal, who subsequently spent considerable time sidelined with injuries, prompted a reevaluation of the sustainability of signing established stars.

The league's football authorities are now prioritizing players who are still in the prime of their careers and have significant potential for future development. The transfer window remains open until early September, but several notable signings have already been confirmed. These include Crysencio Summerville, a 24-year-old Dutch winger, who joined Al Hilal from West Ham United for approximately 70 million euros, expected to add pace and dynamism.

Other key acquisitions include Portuguese midfielder Francisco Trincão, who moved to Al Ahli from Sporting CP for around 45 million euros, and Russian Eduard Spertsyan from FC Krasnodar for 25 million euros. Cristiano Ronaldo's club, Al Nassr, has been more reserved in this transfer window due to financial regulations, with their main signing being Portuguese midfielder Samu Costa for 22 million euros. Malang Sarr, a 27-year-old French defender, also joined NEOM SC as a free agent.