Revealed: The four WORLD CLASS players Saudi Arabia wants to sign in 2024
Cameron Smith
- 1 Aug 2023 08:52 BST
- 3 min read
The Saudi Pro League has already listed its four main transfer targets for 2024 as the division continues to invest heavily in a bid to attract the world’s best players.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first world-class player to join the league last year upon the mutual termination of his contract at Manchester United, and he’s been joined in Saudi Arabia by some of the biggest names in football.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) now owns the country’s four biggest clubs - Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al Ahli and Al-Ittihad - while the rest of the division has also seen major financial investment.
MORE: Saudi Pro League summer transfers 2023: All the Done Deals
Now, Saudi Arabia have set their sights on signing Mohamed Salah, Kevin de Bruyne, Neymar and Luka Modric ahead of the 2024/25 season, according to Rudy Galetti.
The Saudi Pro League’s aim is to have the division ‘crowded’ with some of the biggest stars in football and have identified the aforementioned four players as the ideal candidates to help grow the league even further.
Neymar has been heavily linked with an exit from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, but looks set to stay now Kylian Mbappe is on his way out the Parc des Princes. As a result, a move to Saudi Arabia in 2024, rather than now, makes sense for the Brazilian, while Salah, De Bruyne and Modric remain key players at Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid respectively.
MORE: Mane ‘hurt’ by Bayern Munich exit after closing in on Al-Nassr transfer
Who has joined the Saudi Pro League in 2023?
Saudi Arabia has so far targeted mostly ageing stars who are approaching the twilight of their careers, but the purchases of Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Jota shows that players in their prime aren’t immune to the cash being offered to move to the Middle East.
Al-Hilal have signed the aforementioned Neves and Milinkovic-Savic, as well as Malcom and Kalidou Koulibaly, while Al-Nassr have signed Marcelo Brozovic, Seko Fofana and Alex Telles.
Furthermore, Al Ahli have added Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, Allan Saint-Maximin and Edouard Mendy, and Al-Ittihad have purchased Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Jota.
Jordan Henderson and Moussa Dembele have joined Steven Gerrard at Al Ettifaq.
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Read more about: La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League, Professional League, Al Ahli, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, Liverpool, Man City, PSG, Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modric , Mohamed Salah, Neymar
