Former Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo joined the Saudi Pro League in December 2022 after falling out with then manager Erik ten Hag. It was a massive moment for Saudi Arabia as a nation, getting hold of an all-time great. It was a big deal for Al-Nassr, who perhaps since then revolutionised football in the middle east and brought it front of millions of fans around the globe.
When Ronaldo joined Al-Nasrr, the world of football took notice—not just because of the size of the deal, but because of what it symbolised. It was Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and a six-time Champions League winner. One can say there was a quaky shift in the global football landscape, signalling the Saudi Pro League’s (SPL) ambition to become a major player on the international stage. What followed has been nothing short of transformative.
A statement signing and intent
Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia was a massive statement signing and that of intent from both Al-Nassr and the league they play in – SPL. The Portuguese superstar signed a deal worth over than £177m per year. It was reported as the biggest salary for a football player in history of the sport. It wasn’t a shock and neither anything to be surprised about. Ronaldo with what he achieved in his career, was bound to command such salary after joining as a free agent. Once Ronaldo signed, the SPL got global attention after being in the shadows of Europe’s top competitions.
Within weeks of Ronaldo’s arrival, Al-Nassr’s social media following exploded. One saw TV rights deals get revisited, and merchandise sales also soared. Suddenly, there was a lot of buzz, excitement and aura in the nation and also from Ronaldo fans around the world. What Ronaldo did was also get SPL stadiums to fill – something that once struggled. What was clear was that Ronaldo wasn’t just playing in the SPL—he was redefining it and a lot was about to change.
Al-Nassr weren’t the first club that showed interest in Ronaldo. In the summer of 2022, Al-Hilal saw Ronaldo turning down a £305m deal. Ronaldo said in an interview with TalkTV, that he chose to stay at Manchester United because he was “happy here”.
A wave of high-profile signings
Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia triggered a wave of high-profile signings. In the summer of 2023, the SPL grew further in stature as Ronaldo brought a domino effect.
Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez, Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy were some of the big guns to join Al-Ahli. Another club, Al-Ettifaq roped in Moussa Dembélé and Georginio Wijnaldum. More younger players like Malcom, Ruben Neves, and Kalidou Koulibaly moved to Al-Ittihad. Almeric Laporte and Sadio Mane joined Ronaldo at Al-Nassr. These were some of several top players who got lured by lucrative contracts and the promise of being part of something new.
How can one forget Neymar. A deal worth about 90m euros (£77.6m) plus add-ons was agreed between Al-Hilal and Paris Saint-Germain. Back then with the uncertainty surrounding Kylian Mbappe at PSG, the club had given Al-Hilal permission to talk to the player after making a £259m bid, but the forward opted to stay in Paris.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns several SPL clubs, played a crucial role in financing these transfers. It underscored the country’s long-term strategy to diversify its economy through sport and entertainment.
The influx of talent elevated SPL’s quality of play and also helped in increased media coverage. One witnessed broadcasters pick up SPL matches, keeping the international audiences in mind. One could see a massive rise in Asia and Africa.
A strategic shift in stance
One saw the summer of 2024 be relatively quieter. It wasn’t perhaps just in Saudi but somehow a trend was seen in the global market barring a few European top dogs. Reports claimed that the men in charge of clubs in the SPL changed their stance to a more strategic effect. On one hand, getting talented names from around Europe and elsewhere were fine, but sustaining them seemed an issue.
However, one also saw several not so big players from the league go to the European Championships. Players also spoke highly about the league and that it wasn’t just a retirement home like the Major League Soccer in the USA.
In 2024, you still had players like Joao Cancelo, Nacho and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang come to Saudi. A young talent like Jhon Duran came for big money from Aston Villa in January 2025. So yes, there were prominent movements, however, the sum was nowhere near to what happened in 2023.
In the summer of 2025, Joao Felix arrived from Chelsea to Al-Nassr, alongside Bayern’s Kingsley Coman. Alexandre Lacazette also joined the league from Lyon. It wasn’t only about players, Al-Ahli also roped in Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes also received a massive offer, however, he turned down the move.
Ronaldo has scored a century of goals
Since joining Al-Nassr, Ronaldo has been acing it. Despite not winning the title, he has scored 101 goals in 115 appearances for the club in all competitions. 75 of his goals have come in the SPL from 79 matches.
Ronaldo bagged 50 goals in 2023-24 and another 35 last season. He also won the Golden Boot award in both these seasons in the SPL, scoring 35 and 25 goals respectively.
He also signed a new 2-year deal with the club. In a post on X, Ronaldo wrote: “A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let’s make history together.”
Several other big names have chipped in
It isn’t just about Ronaldo, the SPL has witnessed several other top signings making a mark. In the league, Aleksander Mitrovic helped Al-Hilal win the title in 2023-24, scoring 28 goals. Last season, Ivan Toney and Karim Benzema made their presence felt with 20-plus goals scored. Aubameyang wasn’t far behind.
In the ongoing season, Felix has come in and performed straightaway. Benzema and Steven Bergwin have also started strongly.
Strategic Ambitions
One has to understand that Saudi Arabia’s ambitions extend far beyond football. Focus remains on Vision 2030, the country’s long-term development blueprint, positions sports as a key pillar for economic diversification and international influence. Saudi Arabia hosted the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup and is set to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup solely. Saudi Arabia was the sole bidder for the 2034 tournament. A bid was confirmed by acclamation during a FIFA general congress.
Altogether, the SPL’s growth is gaining prominence each day. Players look settled and are eager to put in a shift. Next year is the World Cup year and so one expects players to give their all this season to make the cut in the squad of their respective nations. It shows belief and value both in terms of the league and players alike. With Ronaldo starting the journey and several global icons following suit, Saudi Arabia is reshaping its image on the world stage. Saudi is hoping to use sport as a bridge between cultures and as a tool for national branding.
Are there any challenges ahead?
Despite all the buzz and momentum, the SPL has its challenges. One major talking point is the sustainability. In years to come, can clubs continue spending at this rate? Will there be a capping and also how will they mould the local players to rise alongside these icons and improve the national team keeping the World Cup in mind. Saudi cannot just keep doing shopping and build, they need to improve their domestic talent so that other leagues especially Europe also scout talents and rope them in.
It’s an area that the think tank will need to address and pave a way for the future.
Another talking point is will the fans stay engaged if performances dip and don’t match expectations? It’s going to be huge on clubs and how they are run. People would want to see proper football which needs to be elite.
What is important for now is that the foundation has been laid. Ronaldo as the catalyst has given the Saudi Pro League a massive push. One can safely say the league has shifted from just a regional competition to global headline-maker in a couple of years.
One will hope to see SPL maintaining its meteoric rise. Yes, it will take work. With the right mindset, things can come into place. But for now, one should celebrate the aura and impact Ronaldo has brought which has already changed the game.
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