The Saudi Pro League, recognized for attracting international stars, skilled a notably quieter switch window in 2024 in comparison with the bustling exercise of 2023.
Last yr noticed a flurry of high-profile signings, together with France’s Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante, Brazil’s Neymar, Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez.
These gamers joined Saudi Pro League groups as golf equipment invested closely to deliver them to the Gulf.
Their arrivals adopted Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who made headlines by leaving Manchester United for Al-Nassr in early winter 2023.
In 2023, Al-Hilal, based mostly in Riyadh, signed Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain for a report 90 million euros ($98 million) in a blockbuster transfer.
This summer season, Saudi golf equipment didn’t pursue a wave of big-name signings. French winger Moussa Diaby, English ahead Ivan Toney and Portuguese right-back Joao Cancelo had been among the many vital strikes to Saudi Arabia in the course of the 2024 switch window, which closed on Sept. 2.
Biggest signing
Coached by France’s Laurent Blanc, Al-Ittihad acquired Diaby, 25, for 60 million euros ($65 million) from English Premier League aspect Aston Villa on July 24.
Diaby joined Benzema, Kante and Brazil’s Fabinho on the Jeddah membership.
According to the German soccer information web site Transfermarkt, Diaby was the most important Saudi Pro League signing of the summer season.
He scored 10 objectives and supplied 9 assists in 54 appearances for Aston Villa in the course of the 2023-24 season.
Toney to Al-Ahli
English ahead Toney additionally moved to Saudi Arabia this summer season. Based in Jeddah, Al-Ahli signed him for 42 million euros ($45 million) on Aug. 31.
Toney, 28, performed for Brentford from 2020 to 2024, scoring 72 objectives in 141 appearances.
He had mortgage spells with a number of English golf equipment earlier than becoming a member of the Bees.
Last season, Toney scored 4 objectives in 17 Premier League matches for Brentford however missed a number of video games as a result of a betting ban.
He was suspended from soccer for eight months in May 2023 for breaching FA betting guidelines however returned in January.
He was a part of England’s EURO 2024 squad, the place Spain beat England 2-1 within the closing.
Cancelo leaves Europe
Cancelo, a Portugal common who beforehand performed for European giants corresponding to Inter Milan, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, left Manchester City for Al-Hilal in August.
Al-Hilal paid 25 million euros ($27 million) for the full-back. Cancelo joined Manchester City from Juventus in 2019 and performed recurrently till January 2023 when he was benched.
He made a shocking transfer to Bayern Munich on mortgage in January 2023 and spent the 2023-24 season on mortgage at Barcelona.
In June, he returned to Manchester City however didn’t play.
Cancelo received home titles at Benfica, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Manchester City and helped City win the Champions League, although he didn’t characteristic within the knockout levels.
Last season, he scored 4 objectives in 42 appearances for Barcelona and performed for Portugal at EURO 2024.
Zouma and Bergwijn
French central defender Kurt Zouma, who received the Champions League and English Premier League titles with Chelsea, joined Al-Orobah on mortgage from West Ham United in August.
The Al-Orobah soccer membership relies in Sakakah, an oasis city in northern Saudi Arabia. Zouma, 29, helped West Ham win the third-tier UEFA Conference League title in 2023 and scored three objectives in 39 appearances final season.
Separately, Dutch winger Steven Bergwijn, who performed for Ajax from 2022 to 2024, signed with Al-Ittihad for 21 million euros ($22 million) on Sept. 2.
The 26-year-old Amsterdam native scored 13 objectives in 31 matches for Ajax final season and was a member of the Netherlands squad at EURO 2024.
Before Ajax, he performed for Tottenham Hotspur and PSV Eindhoven, the place he received three Dutch titles.
Source: www.dailysabah.com