For football in Saudi Arabia, change is the only constant. One of the fastest growing leagues in the world has unveiled plans to take its ambitious football operations to the next level after a stellar season that saw some of the biggest players in the world move to the kingdom.
Football experienced a tectonic shift last term when superstars like Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema became some of the many big names signed by Saudi Arabian clubs following a complete transformation of their domestic setup, which was triggered by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF taking control of four of the country’s most prominent clubs.
World governing body Fifa said that clubs from the kingdom were among the five biggest spenders in the international transfer market, splashing out $970 million in 2023 compared to $50.4 million in the previous year.
Now, the league has decided to focus on consolidating its position.
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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
What changes are being made to Saudi football?
One of the main areas of focus this season will be acquiring young talent. According to the guidelines, Saudi clubs are being encouraged to develop homegrown talent and also target promising young internationals.
"By focusing on attracting younger international talent, we aim to provide our youth with the opportunity to learn from the best globally," a Saudi Pro League (SPL) spokesperson was quoted as saying by Reuters.
"This strategic focus on youth players allows us to build long-term success, competitiveness, and sustainability for both the league and the clubs."
The SPL announced that the impetus this season will be mainly on young talent. In a statement, the Saudi league said their player acquisition plan helped reduce "contract termination costs and lower the average age of signed players from 29 to 27.5 years. The SPL aims to further reduce this average in the upcoming season, with a focus on signing players under the age of 21".
Also, the league plans to cut match squads from 30 to 25 players to "minimise the unwanted effect of overly deep benches, giving more opportunities to new players".
Will there still be big signings?
Fans can expect more big names being pursued by Saudi clubs this season. However, the new guidelines mean the SPL is looking to become a lot more competitive and not just a high profile destination for big names in the sport.
Are there any other changes?
Earlier, Saudi football announced a new plan for clubs. The kingdom's ministry of sport 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.
After that, eight more clubs - Al Shoalah, Hajar, Al Najmah, Al Riyadh, Al Rawdhah, Jeddah, Al Taraji, and Al Sahel - will be up for privatisation at a later stage.
Up until now, the Saudi PIF has been the main investor in football. However, reports from the kingdom state that the clubs will be available for privatisation to foreign investors as well.
