Saudi Pro League Boom: Superstar Signings, Record Fees & How It’s Shaking Up World Football

Subheadings: Al-Ittihad seal historic tenth title The Roshn Saudi League went down to the wire, but Marcelo Gallardo’s Al-Ittihad held their nerve, clinching a record-equalling 10th domestic crown after a 2-0 victory over Al-Taawoun on Matchday 34, ending Al-Hilal’s late surge and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr comeback bid. Al-Hilal’s late push falls short A nine-game unbeaten streak kept the defending champions in touch, but a surprise 1-1 draw with Al-Orobah robbed Jorge Jesus’ side of the momentum they needed. Their focus now switches to the King’s Cup final and the AFC Champions League, where record purses and automatic FIFA Club World Cup slots await. Continental places decided on dramatic final day • 2nd – Al-Hilal: secure direct entry into the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Elite phase. • 3rd – Al-Nassr: Ronaldo’s 29 goals set a single-season league record and booked a preliminary round berth. • 4th – new boys Al-Qadsiah: promoted last summer, they earned a fairy-tale Asian ticket after edging Al-Taawoun on goal difference. Transfer market already lighting up Riyadh heavyweights have wasted no time: • Al-Hilal tabled a £200 m package for Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes; the Portuguese star has been given a post-FA Cup deadline to decide on a potential reunion with compatriot Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia. • Speculation also surrounds Inter boss Simone Inzaghi, who downplayed links to a lucrative Pro League switch ahead of the Champions League final. • Al-Ahli are tipped to launch a European-record bid for Atlético Madrid winger João Félix as PIF-backed clubs intensify their 2025-26 squad rebuilds. Stats snapshot: 2024-25 season at a glance • Points needed to win: 75 (Al-Ittihad). • Top scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo – 29 goals. • Most assists: Malcom (Al-Hilal) – 17. • Clean-sheet king: Édouard Mendy (Al-Ahli) – 16 shutouts. • Newly promoted sides survival rate: 2/3 (Al-Qadsiah, Al-Kholood stay up; Al-Orobah relegated). Full standings and statistics are available via the Saudi FA portal and Wikipedia’s continuously updated league page. What the title means for Vision 2030 Al-Ittihad’s triumph underscores the competitive parity the league sought when it opened the PIF investment pipeline last summer. Average attendances hit 19,800, a 41 % uptick year-on-year, while global broadcast reach expanded to 145 territories. The uptick aligns with Vision 2030’s sports-tourism pillar, with Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City reporting a record 2.3 m match-day visitors. Next on the calendar • 29 May: King’s Cup final – Al-Hilal vs Al-Ahli. • 3 June: Summer transfer window opens; international medical hubs set up in Riyadh and Jeddah to expedite overseas arrivals. • 15 July: Pre-season US tour featuring Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr and MLS champions Columbus Crew. Bottom line A season that began with marquee European imports ended in a domestic dogfight decided in the final week. With billion-euro transfer budgets and the promise of a 32-team FIFA Club World Cup slot, expect the Saudi Pro League to headline the summer rumor mill—and continue reshaping the global football economy.