The Saudi Pro League’s top January transfer targets: Jadon Sancho, Casemiro & the big names who could join Cristiano Ronaldo & Co. in the Middle East
There is no end in sight to the spending spree that stunned the football world last year, with more big names set to move to the Middle East in 2024
It turned out that Cristiano Ronaldo was just the start. Saudi Arabian football made waves earlier this time last year when Al-Nassr signed the five-time Ballon d’Or winner – but it was nothing compared to the tidal wave generated by the subsequent £700 million ($870m) summer spending spree that saw the likes of Karim Benzema and Neymar join Ronaldo in the Middle East.
With Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) both taking over and providing huge financial backing to four of the country’s biggest clubs – Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad – the scale of the project became abundantly clear.
Michael Emenalo, the Saudi Pro League’s director of football, is not expecting the January transfer window to be “very busy”, arguing that most of the competition’s teams now “have what they need”. However, the former Chelsea technical director admitted that any attempts to make “additions of the highest level” will be fully supported.
