With the summer transfer window in full swing, teams from the Saudi Pro League are continuing to send seismic shockwaves through the footballing world.
The astronomical amounts they are prepared to splash out on top players across Europe has seen some previously unknown teams now filled with household names.
But how might the top teams in the Saudi Pro League line up next season? Who will be the title contenders when the new season gets underway at the end of August?
Read on below to see how the exodus of Europe’s elite to Saudi Arabia will impact the Saudi Pro League in 2023-24.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr finished as runners up last season, with Al-Ittihad winning the title
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy joined Al-Ahli from Chelsea for a reported fee of £16million
Al-Ahli
One of the country’s most popular teams, Al-Ahli were promoted from the second division last term, after they were one of four team’s taken over by Newcastle United’s owners, the Public Investment Fund, recently.
Based in Saudi Arabia’s second most populous city of Jeddah, Al-Ahli have won the Saudi title on three previous occasions and share a ground with the reigning champions Al-Ittihad.
Having signed Roberto Firmino and Edouard Mendy from Liverpool and Chelsea, they have also been linked with Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez.
Despite being promoted last season, Al-Ahli are still looking for a manager to take charge ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Possible starting XI: Edouard Mendy; Ali Majrashi, Bastos, Abdulbasit Hindi, Ezgjan Alioski; Ali Al-Asmari, Hicham Faik; Alassane Ndao, Roberto Firmino, Modou Barrow; Marcao.
Al-Ettifaq
Former Rangers and Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard was appointed as Al-Ettifaq’s manager in July 2023.
The Liverpool legend will be looking to guide the team to their first piece of silverware since the 1980s.
Notable names in their squad include Amin Younes, a winger who has been capped eight times by Germany, who returns following a loan spell with Utrecht.
Forward Robin Quaison has also played international level, having been capped by Sweden.
Possible starting XI: Paulo Victor; Abdulrahman Oumar, Marcel Tisserand, Darko Velkovski, Sanousi Al-Hawsawi; Berat Ozdemir, Ibrahim Mohannashi; Amin Younes, Hamed Al-Ghamdi, Vitinho; Robin Quaison.
Former Rangers and Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard was appointed as Al-Ettifaq’s manager in July 2023
Al-Hilal
Another club owned by the PIF, Al-Hilal have already spent big so far this summer, forking out £47million to sign Ruben Neves from Wolves, Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio.
Already in their ranks are former Porto striker Moussa Marega, ex-West Brom midfielder Matheus Pereira and the Peruvian international winger Andre Carrillo, who had a stint at Watford.
Al-Hilal have won a record four Asian Champions Leagues, along with 18 domestic titles in Saudi Arabia.
Possible starting XI: Mohammed Al-Owais; Saud Abdulhamid, Kalidou Koulibaly, Hyun-soo Jang, Yasser Al-Shahrani; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Ruben Neves, Matheus Pereira; Moussa Marega, Andre Carrillo, Michael.
Al-Ittihad
Al-Ittihad are Saudi Arabia’s reigning champions, having beaten Al-Nassr to the title in 2022-23.
They contest the country’s biggest derby with Al-Hilal, and were guided to glory last time out by former Wolves and Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Karim Benzema has joined reigning champions Al-Ittihad in a shock move from Real Madrid
Al-Hilal have already spent big so far this summer, with former Chelsea centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly one of several big-name signings
They have made some of the biggest moves in the leagues this summer, after securing the signings of Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and ex-Celtic winger Jota.
Possible starting XI: Marcelo Grohe; Madallah Al-Olayan, Ahmed Hegazy, Ahmed Sharahili, Ahmed Bamsaud; N’Golo Kante, Tarek Hamed; Abdulrahman Al-Oboud, Igor Coronado, Jota; Karim Benzema.
Al-Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo shocked the footballing universe when he joined Al-Nassr midway through last season.
After missing out on the title – and a place in the Club World Cup – Ronaldo and his team-mates, who include former Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina, Inter’s ex-skipper Marcelo Brozovic – will be aiming to go one step further this season.
Possible starting XI: David Ospina; Sultan Al-Ghannam, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Abdullah Madu, Ghislain Konan; Marcelo Brozovic, Pity Martinez, Talisca; Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jaloliddin Masharipov.
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