The most costly moves in Saudi Pro League history following Nunez’s arrival at Al-Hilal
With huge salaries on offer, the Saudi Pro League has enticed several football stars to play in the Middle East in recent years.
One of the first well-known players to join Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia was Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently earns an incredible £178 million a season. Lionel Messi, Bruno Fernandes, and Kylian Mbappe are among the elite players who have declined offers to join the Saudi Pro League. But players like Neymar, Karim Benzema, and N’Golo Kante chose Saudi Arabia over some of the top clubs in Europe. The most recent to do so is Darwin Nunez, who moved from Liverpool to Al-Hilal for an initial €53 million. On a list of the ten most costly Saudi Pro League transfers ever, however, where does he stand?
| 10 most expensive Saudi Pro League transfers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | From | To | Fee |
| Neymar | PSG | Al-Hilal | €90m |
| Jhon Duran | Aston Villa | Al-Nassr | €77m |
| Mateo Retegui | Atalanta | Al-Qadsiah | €68.25m |
| Moussa Diaby | Aston Villa | Al-Nassr | €60m |
| Malcom | Zenit | Al-Hilal | €60m |
| Otavio | FC Porto | Al-Nassr | €60m |
| Ruben Neves | Wolves | Al-Hilal | €55m |
| Darwin Nunez | Liverpool | Al-Hilal | €53m |
| Aleksandar Mitrovic | Fulham | Al-Hilal | €52.6m |
| Galeno | FC Porto | Al-Ahli
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In 2025, Brazilian winger Galeno made a €50 million trade from FC Porto to Al-Ahli. When he traded Portugal for Saudi Arabia at the age of 27, Galeno was arguably at the height of his abilities. He scored in the final against Kawasaki Frontale to help Al-Ahli win the inaugural AFC Champions League Elite title.
After eight years of dominating in England with Newcastle United and Fulham, Aleksandar Mitrovic attracted Al-Hilal’s attention. Throughout his career, he has scored goals everywhere. The Serbian striker, who has since averaged more than a goal or an assist per game, was acquired by Craven Cottage for €52.6 million in 2023. Mitrovic assisted Al-Hilal in winning the Saudi Cup and the league in 2023–2024.
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