The Saudi Pro League (SPL), also known as the Roshn Saudi League for sponsorship reasons, is the top professional football league in Saudi Arabia, recognized as the premier football competition in Asia. Established in 1976, it features 18 clubs competing in a round-robin format from August to May, with the champion earning a title and qualification for the AFC Champions League Elite, while the bottom three teams face relegation. The league has a rich history, evolving from regional tournaments and the King’s Cup to a fully professional system since 2007, with Al-Hilal holding a record 19 titles.
Since 2023, the SPL has gained global attention due to significant investments from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which acquired 75% stakes in top clubs Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative. This financial backing has attracted world-class stars, starting with **Cristiano Ronaldo**, whose 2023 move to Al-Nassr sparked a “revolution” in Asian football. Other prominent players include **Neymar** (Al-Hilal), **Karim Benzema** (Al-Ittihad), **Sadio Mané** (Al-Nassr), **Riyad Mahrez** (Al-Ahli), **N’Golo Kanté** (Al-Ittihad), **Rúben Neves** (Al-Hilal), and **Allan Saint-Maximin** (Al-Ahli), significantly boosting the league’s profile.
The 2024-25 season saw Al-Ittihad as the reigning champions, with Al-Hilal dominating historically. Recent highlights include Al-Hilal’s unbeaten 2023-24 season and Ronaldo’s record-breaking 35 goals, earning him the Golden Boot. The league recorded 909 goals in 2023-24, a 40% increase from the previous season, reflecting its growing competitiveness. However, challenges remain, such as concerns over the league’s two-tier structure due to uneven investment and the reliance on veteran stars, with some like Benzema facing speculation about potential exits.
With passionate fan support, vibrant tifos, and increasing global broadcasts, the SPL aims to be among the world’s top leagues by 2030, leveraging its star power and infrastructure development ahead of the 2034 World Cup.
Eintracht Frankfurt were set to lose a key player to the financial might of Saudi Arabia, but a mother's intervention resulted in the player staying.
Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly urged Al-Nassr to snap up Mason Greenwood, with Marseille still at risk of losing the ex-Manchester United forward.
Presnel Kimpembe has no future at Paris Saint-Germain and looks set for a late transfer after garnering interest from the Middle East.
Casemiro opted to remain at Manchester United over a transfer to Al-Nassr, with the 2026 World Cup a key factor in the Brazilian's decision.
Ex-Chelsea and Barcelona forward Joao Felix has revealed how his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo helped convince him to complete a move to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr. Felix has shown early promise in the Middle East after years of struggles in European football, scoring a hat-trick in his Al-Nassr's opening Saudi Pro League win over Al-Tawoun.
Raheem Sterling has reportedly shut the door on lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and the United States, instead vowing to remain in London and wait for the January window to open. The 30-year-old forward has no intention of uprooting his young family from the capital and will continue training away from Chelsea’s main squad at Cobham.
Ex-Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte is finally set to to complete a free transfer back to Athletic Club after ending his Al-Nassr contract.
Borussia Dortmund director Hans-Joachim Watzke has urged European football to adopt salary caps, warning finances are spiraling out of control.
Birmingham investor and NFL icon Tom Brady has gifted a rare Cristiano Ronaldo rookie card, which could be worth $86,000, to CR7 superfan IShowSpeed.
