Top 10 Biggest Saudi Pro League Spenders Since Cristiano Ronaldo’s Arrival
Since Cristiano Ronaldo’s high-profile move to Al-Nassr in January 2023, clubs in the Saudi Pro League have dramatically increased their transfer spending, drawing global attention to the league’s financial muscle and competitive ambitions.
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According to recent transfer data, Saudi clubs have invested heavily in talent from Europe and around the world, with several teams ranking among the league’s top net spenders since Ronaldo’s arrival.
1. Al-Hilal — Net Spend: €623.37m
Al-Hilal leads all clubs in net transfer spend, with a total outlay of €651.12m against €27.75m in sales. The club smashed the Saudi Pro League transfer record by signing Neymar for €90m and strengthened its squad with big-name additions such as Aleksandar Mitrović, Sergej Milinković-Savić, Kalidou Koulibaly and Rúben Neves.
2. Al-Ittihad — Net Spend: €385.42m
Al-Ittihad’s activity has been defined by major signings — including Fabinho, Jota, Luiz Felipe and Moussa Diaby (€60m). Despite picking up stars like Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté on free transfers, their substantial spending on squad reinforcement places them among the league’s biggest net spenders.
3. Al-Nassr — Net Spend: €381.18m
The club that brought Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia also features near the top of the net-spend rankings. Al-Nassr’s expenditure includes players like Otávio, Sadio Mané, Aymeric Laporte, Alex Telles and Jhon Duran — the latter signed for a club-record fee of €77m in January 2025.
4. Al-Ahli — Net Spend: €332.6m
Newly promoted Al-Ahli have been major spenders, adding the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Gabri Veiga, Roger Ibáñez, Allan Saint-Maximin, Edouard Mendy and Ivan Toney to their ranks, while also recouping funds through player sales.
5. Al-Qadsiah — Net Spend: €195.87m
After promotion to the top flight backed by Saudi Aramco, Al-Qadsiah splashed €82.26m in one window, highlighted by players such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and club-record signing Mateo Retegui.
6. Neom S.C. — Net Spend: €112.13m
Neom’s rise to the Saudi Pro League saw considerable investment in new talent, with signings including Marcin Bułka and Said Benrahma.
Remaining Clubs in Net Spend Rankings
- Al-Najma — €12.32m
- Al-Kholood — €11.39m
- Al-Shabab — €6.7m
- Al-Okhdood — €5.61m
These clubs also feature in the top 10 spenders, though their figures are far lower than the league’s biggest investors.
The recent spending surge — part of a broader strategy following Ronaldo’s signing — has helped raise the Saudi Pro League’s profile internationally and intensified competition both domestically and in regional tournaments.
Top 10 Biggest Saudi Pro League Spenders Since Cristiano Ronaldo’s Arrival