The Saudi Pro League (SPL) sought global relevance by luring five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo to the Middle East in 2023.
The Portuguese star joined Al-Nassr in a move funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) following a bitter exit from Manchester United
Numerous other players followed Ronaldo to the SPL, sparking talk that the established order in football would be impacted. However, the reality has been somewhat different.
Attracting Names, Not Primes
Raiding Europe to sign star players initially boosted visibility and gave broadcasters an exciting product to sell outside the Gulf region.
Before January 2023, the average fan might not have been able to name a single SPL player. They now know Yacine Bonou, Ruben Neves and many more.
Their arrival in the SPL has triggered a betting boom, fuelled by Arab punters and bettors located in established international gambling jurisdictions.
Many Arabic Bitcoin sports betting sites now offer odds on SPL games and allow punters to fund their wagering activities with cryptocurrencies.
While global interest in the SPL has undoubtedly grown, the massive investment in players from overseas has not really impacted the big European leagues.
If they had signed targets such as Victor Osimhen, Kylian Mbappe, Mohamed Salah and Bruno Fernandes, it would be a different ball game.
Players still prefer to make their mark in Europe before heading to the Gulf for a final bumper payday. The SPL is a final destination, not a career-defining move.
The Ripple Effect on Europe’s Middle Class
While the Saudi investment has not impacted the Champions League elites, clubs further down the food chain have felt their presence in the transfer market.
The SPL has become a primary competitor for mid-table Premier League clubs and their counterparts in the Championship, as they can pay bigger wages. The Jack Hendry saga comes to mind.
Coventry City pursued the Scotland international centre-back but were beaten to the punch by Al-Ettifaq. They offered more in wages, which proved too enticing for the former Wigan Athletic ace.
Several other players who could be plying their trade in the Championship are in the SPL including Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Marek Rodak.
Championship clubs now face wealthier competition in an already shallow transfer market. SPL clubs have not destroyed the market, but they have skewed it.
The UEFA Champions League Still Reigns
The UEFA Champions League is still the dream stage for professional footballers. It carries the prestige and quality most of them aspire to.
Players in their prime want to spend their peak years competing with the best in the business, and the SPL does not offer that despite the heavy spending.
They have become a dumping ground for veterans or players who have failed to live up to expectations in European football.
For example, Liverpool sold Fabinho to Al-Ittihad when he was visibly declining. They still earned a massive windfall. Chelsea have done the same for some of their depreciating assets.
Questions Around Sustainability
Another uncomfortable question that plagues the SPL is sustainability. Chinese clubs made a similar financial outlay a few years ago, only to fade into the background.
Saudi clubs could suffer the same fate. After splashing the cash over the past two years, they have been relatively quiet this summer. The initial momentum was unsustainable.
The speed with which some players have jumped ship from the SPL is alarming. For instance, Jordan Henderson barely spent a year with Al-Ettifaq before he returned to Europe.
Neymar returned to Brazil after five games, and there was talk of Karim Benzema being unsettled. Aymeric Laporte has been itching to return to Europe, and there are several other cases.
SPL clubs have spent more than their Chinese counterparts, and they will understandably be wary of falling even harder than they did.
The Saudi project is seemingly more strategic and backed by a national mandate. However, If the quality does not keep improving, interest will nosedive.
Written by Chloe Watkins
