Saudi Arabia is pushing ahead with its plans to bring in more changes to its football structure with the announcement of privatisation plans for six more clubs.
The kingdom's ministry of sport has launched the latest phase of the 'sports clubs investment and privatisation project' to bring in fresh investment at 14 more clubs.
Six clubs will now be available for investments starting in August - Al Zulfi, Al Nahda, Al Okhdood, Al Ansar, Al Orouba, and Al Kholoud. The clubs have been selected based on their operational readiness, financial health, administrative capabilities and athletic facilities.
After that process is completed, eight more clubs - Al Shoalah, Hajar, Al Najmah, Al Riyadh, Al Rawdhah, Jeddah, Al Taraji, and Al Sahel - will also be up for privatisation at a later stage.
It marks the next stage in the transformation process of Saudi football which started last year when Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, took control of four of the country’s most prominent football clubs.
The PIF acquired majority stake in Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad and Al Ahli, ushering in a new era in Saudi football that saw it become one of the new main centres of the sport.
Saudi Pro League thus became one of the most high profile leagues in the world, attracting the biggest names with record deals.
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Alexander Mitrovic, right, scored twice in Al Hilal's 4-1 victory over Al Hazm at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh on May 11, 2024. The win clinched Hilal a record-extending 19th Saudi Pro League title. AFP -
Al Hilal's players celebrate after winning their 19th Saudi Pro League title. Getty Images -
Al Hilal's players celebrate their SPL title victory on the pitch after the win against Al Hazm. AFP -
Hilal's players celebrate their 19th Saudi Pro League title. AFP -
Al Hilal supporters celebrate after winning the Saudi Pro League. Getty Images -
Neymar celebrates Al Hilal's Saudi Pro League triumph. Getty Images -
Hilal's Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus celebrates with his players. AFP -
Al Hilal players after winning the Saudi Pro League. Getty Images -
Hilal supporters let off blue and white flares in celebration. AFP -
Al Hilal fans after winning the SPL title. Getty Images -
Aleksander Mitrovic of Al Hilal celebrates after winning the league title. Getty Images -
Saud Abdulhamid and Mohammad Al Shalhoub after the match. Getty Images -
Al Hilal's Yasser Al-Shahrani celebrates with teammates . Reuters -
Al Hilal supporters cheer the title triumph. AFP -
Hilal coach Jorge Jesus at the end of the game. AFP -
Al Hilal's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scores their fourth goal. Reuters -
Hilal's players celebrate their 19th Saudi Pro League title with the fans. AFP -
Aleksandar Mitrovic scores Hilal's first goal from the penalty spot. AFP -
Al Hilal's Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates scoring the opening goal against Al Hazm. AFP
Who will invest in Saudi clubs?
Earlier this year, vice-minister of sport Bader Alkadi said that the kingdom was preparing for a fresh wave of private investments.
“We expect to have another wave of privatisation coming up soon,” Alkadi told Bloomberg in March. “That gives us opportunity to make the investment in sport a sustainable investment.”
Until now, the Saudi PIF has been the main player driving up investments in football and other major sports. With a total of 14 football clubs set for privatisation, outside investors could be sought. Reports from the kingdom stated that the clubs are available for privatisation to foreign investors as well.
Transformation of sports
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo laid the foundations by signing for Al Nassr last December in reportedly one of the most lucrative player deals in the game’s history.
In the summer, the SPL embarked on an aggressive player-recruitment programme that included then-Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema, Brazil superstar Neymar, and the likes of N’Golo Kante, Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez as well.
It was a season to remember as Ronaldo set a new goalscoring record.
Ronaldo, 39, struck 35 goals in 31 games for Al Nassr to set a new mark, overtaking Abderrazak Hamdallah's previous record of 34 in the 2018/19 season. The Portuguese forward also registered 11 assists, taking his SPL goal involvements to 46.
The new investment plans have had significant impact on the Saudi Pro League. The league has seen significant commercial revenue growth from last season, with a goal to potentially reach an annual total of 1.8 billion Saudi riyals (Dh1.76 billion).
Clubs are also making efforts to raise the bar by investing in facilities and stadiums. With the help of the ministry, Al Fateh, Al Ettifaq, Al Taawoun, Al Shabab, and Al Hilal all moved to their own home stadiums during the 2023-24 season.
It is all part of a grand project launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in line with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.
The kingdom has been investing heavily in sport to raise the profile of the country as an attractive destination for business, tourism and recreation.
Earlier, the PGA Tour, European Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit had announced a landmark agreement to merge and form a commercial entity to unify golf.
Saudi Arabia then shifted its focus to tennis where the PIF and the WTA announced a multi-year partnership. In a similar deal that was unveiled with the men's tour (ATP) in February, PIF will also now become the first ever naming partner of the WTA Rankings.
Top Saudi Pro League signings
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Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr): The transfer that started it all. The Portuguese superstar moved to the Saudi Pro League in January after his acrimonious exit from Manchester United. Ronaldo scored 14 goals in his first 16 Saudi Pro League games. AFP -
Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad): The first statement signing of the summer transfer window, Ballon d'Or holder Benzema joined the Saudi champions after agreeing an exit from Real Madrid. The French striker was welcomed with a fittingly grand ceremony. Reuters -
N'Golo Kante (Al Ittihad): The French midfielder soon followed Benzema to Ittihad once his Chelsea contract expired. Kante, a two-time Premier League winner and World Cup champion, adds further glamour to the Saudi Pro League. AFP -
Ruben Neves (Al Hilal): By far the most expensive player in Saudi Pro League history. While Ronaldo and Benzema are the bigger global names, both arrived on free transfers. Portuguese midfielder Neves shattered the transfer record by moving to Hilal from Wolves for £47 million. AP -
Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal): After completing the record-breaking move for Neves, Hilal turned their attention to Koulibaly, recruiting the Senegalese centre-back for £20m. Despite a difficult season at Chelsea, Koulibaly has been one of the standout defenders of his generation. AFP -
Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli): Before his long-term shoulder injury, Mendy was one of the best goalkeepers in the world, winning the Champions League with Chelsea and Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal. His £16m move to Ahli can help revive his career. AFP -
Jota (Al Ittihad): The Saudi champions are making major moves this summer, and the £25m acquisition of Portuguese winger Jota boosts an attack led by Benzema. PA -
Marcelo Brozovic (Al Nassr): Arriving to provide support to Ronaldo at Nassr, Croatian midfielder Brozovic joined the Saudi club for £15m after another impressive season for Champions League finalists Inter Milan. AFP -
Steven Gerrard (Al Ettifaq): Major arrivals are not only happening on the pitch but in the dugout. Former Rangers and Aston Villa manager Gerrard was appointed by Ettifaq and will aim to revive his career in Saudi. AFP -
Roberto Firmino (Al Ahli): The former Liverpool forward left Anfield after eight successful seasons to lead the attack at Ahli. @ALAHLI_FC / Twitter -
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Al Hilal): Arguably the most eye-catching deal of the summer. The 28-year-old Serbia midfielder has frequently been linked with Europe's biggest clubs but has opted to join Hilal in a €40m deal. His midfield partnership with Ruben Neves would be the envy of many European teams. Reuters -
Jordan Henderson (Al Ettifaq): The former Liverpool captain is expected to wear the armband following his move from the Premier League giants. The midfielder departed Anfield after 12 years, seven major trophies and 492 appearances. Reuters -
Alex Telles (Al Nassr): The Brazilian defender linked up with former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr this summer. Telles spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Sevilla, helping the Spanish club win the Europa League. He joined Nassr for a reported fee of £4 million. Getty -
Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli) - Algerian winger Mahrez left Manchester City after five years at the Etihad Stadium in which he won 11 major trophies. In all, he made 236 appearances, scoring 78 goals. Reuters -
Allan Saint-Maximin (Al Ahli): The French winger signed for Jeddah giants Al Ahli on a three-year contract after confirming his departure from Newcastle. During his four years on Tyneside, Saint-Maximin scored 13 goals in 124 appearances. AFP -
Fabinho (Al Ittihad): An integral part of a Liverpool squad that won the Champions League and Premier League in successive seasons following his move from Monaco in 2019. Capped 29 times for his country, the Brazilian midfielder joined the Saudi Pro League champions on a three-year contract. AP -
Sadio Mane (Al Nassr): After six highly successful years at Liverpool, in which he won the Premier League and Uefa Champions League titles, Mane endured a frustrating season at Bayern Munich, though he contributed to their title success. The Senegalese, 31, will be part of a fearsome attacking line up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Nassr. Getty -
Malcom (Al Hilal): Not content with breaking the Saudi Pro League transfer record once, Al Hilal did so twice this summer and made Brazilian winger Malcom the most expensive player in Saudi football history. AFP -
Seko Fofana (Al Nassr): A player in demand this summer after a superb season to help Lens run PSG close in Ligue 1, the Ivory Coast midfielder opted to link up with Ronaldo at Al Nassr over moves elsewhere in Europe. AC Milan had been strongly linked. AFP -
Franck Kessie (Al Ahli): The Ivory Coast midfielder's time at Barcelona may not have worked out but he remains a top-level operator and adds more quality and star power to Al Ahli. Getty -
Moussa Dembele (Al Ettifaq): A shrewd free transfer by Gerrard's Al Ettifaq, the French striker has moved to the Saudi Pro League side on a four-year deal and should provide the goals. AFP -
Neymar (Al Hilal). The Brazilian completed his move from PSG and is one of the biggest stars in the ever-expanding Saudi Pro League. He was unveiled in front of thousands of fans in Riyadh on Saturday. Getty -
Yannick Carrasco (Al Shabab). After 265 appearances across two spells at Atletico Madrid, the Belgian winger joined the Riyadh club for a reported fee of €15 million. Carrasco also spent two years in the Chinese Super League. EPA -
Georginio Wijnaldum (Al Ettifaq): The Dutch midfielder enhanced the Liverpool connection at Ettifaq, joining former teammate Jordan Henderson at the Damman club coached by Reds legend Steven Gerrard. Wijnaldum, 32, has signed a three-year contract. Reuters -
Gabri Veiga (Al Ahli): Widely regarded as one of the best midfield prospects in Spain, 21-year-old Veiga signed for Ahli on a three-year deal from Celta Vigo despite interest from Liverpool and Napoli. Veiga said he opted for the Saudi Pro League to "grow the game" in the kingdom. EPA -
Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr): A vital part of Manchester City's squad that clinched a treble of league, cup and Uefa Champions League in 2023, the Spaniard switched to Nassr over the summer to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. A fee of £23.6 million makes the 29-year-old the league's most expensive defender. Getty Images -
Otavio (Al Nassr): The Portugal midfielder scored 31 goals in 283 games in all competitions for Porto after joining the team in 2014. He linked up with Riyadh-based club after Porto accepted a bid of around $65 million. AFP -
Merih Demiral: (Al Ahli): The imposing Turkey centre-back boasts Sporting of Lisbon and Juventus among his previous clubs and stood out in Serie A across two seasons at Atalanta. The 25-year-old joined Ahli on a three-year contract. Getty
